Player Ratings: Manchester City 4-1 Arsenal (Premier League)

Kevin De Bruyne ran the show as Manchester City took a giant step towards their third successive Premier League title with a 4-1 thumping of Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday evening.

The hosts made an electric start against the league leaders, who entered the clash on the back of three consecutive draws, in front of a buoyant crowd in east Manchester in a game that was going to have major implications on the title race.

Having won all but one of their last 12 games across all competitions, Manchester City picked up right where they left off against Sheffield United in the FA Cup as Kevin De Bruyne raced clear after being played in by Erling Haaland and rifled City into the lead after seven minutes.

De Bruyne has been at the heart of City’s great run of late and was heavily involved in the hosts’ attack throughout the first half, where Pep Guardiola’s men could have gone out of sight as they failed to convert a host of clear-cut chances.

Arsenal were hanging on against the Premier League champions but fell two down on the stroke of half-time when John Stones headed in from De Bruyne’s cross – following a VAR check after the goal was initially adjudged offside.

City made it three less than 10 minutes into the second half when De Bruyne finished off with ease past Aaron Ramsdale to put the tie to bed and seal a crucial three points for the treble-chasing Blues.

Kevin De Bruyne: The Owner. 😌pic.twitter.com/b7NBWhOsxM

— City Xtra (@City_Xtra) April 26, 2023

It was not Arsenal’s day by a stretch and Mikel Arteta’s men have now gone four league games without a win but they did pull one back late on when Rob Holding struck a brilliant effort past Ederson from the edge of the area.

However, City did finish the game on a high when Haaland got in on the act after being teed up by Phil Foden to put the icing on the cake for the hosts.

Here is how we rated the Manchester City players from the win:

Ederson – 6/10

Did not have much to deal with as Arsenal were very limited in attack through and could not have done much more about Holding’s consolation goal.

Kyle Walker – 7/10

Walker was brought back in following Nathan Ake’s injury and the England international did not disappoint as he was rock-solid throughout, using his pace and experience to deal with Arsenal’s pace in attack.

Ruben Dias – 7/10

Having commanded City’s defence in their recent winning run, Dias was flawless and helped beat Arsenal’s press by playing into midfield whilst controlling Gabriel Jesus.

Manuel Akanji – 8/10

Arguably City’s best defender on the night, Akanji produced an inspirational defensive display and notably drove with the ball into Arsenal’s half to spark City attacks.

John Stones – 8.5/10

In his hybrid midfield-defensive position, Stones was calm and composed on the ball and was once again the source of City’s opener as it was the 28-year-old who launched the ball into Haaland’s feet for De Bruyne to latch onto.

After teeing up Haaland against Bayern in City’s 3-0 win in the Champions League quarter-final and netting from distance against Leicester, Stones was once again on the scoresheet as he gave his side some breathing room on the edge of half-time with a well-placed header past Ramsdale.

Rodri – 7/10

The bar has been set incredibly high for the Spaniard in the title run-in and Rodri can’t seem to do any wrong at the minute. Another cool and assured outing for one of the first names on Guardiola’s teamsheet.

Bernardo Silva – 7/10

The Portuguese has picked up peak form at the right time and after helping City knock out Bayern in the Champions League, he helped link play between the defence and attack and was a reliable possession outlet for the six-time Premier League champions.

Ilkay Gundogan – 7/10

Not his most creative performance but Gundogan produced a captain’s display by orchestrating City’s midfield and proving the perfect balance between attack and defence as De Bruyne bombed forward and Silva was running absolutely everywhere.

Kevin De Bruyne – 10/10 (MOTM)

Words will fail to do justice to what Kevin De Bruyne is delivering so consistently on the pitch for Manchester City, so we’ll sit this one out.

Jack and Kevin. 🥰💙 pic.twitter.com/lEDxBxCcqC

— City Xtra (@City_Xtra) April 26, 2023

Jack Grealish – 7/10

Grealish has started to show why City broke their transfer record for his services last season and was at his silky best again and though he did not get himself a goal or assist, he caused havoc amongst the Gunners backline and helped bring the likes of De Bruyne and Haaland into play.

Erling Haaland – 8.5/10

Haaland shut his passing and hold-up play critics once again as he linked up expertly with De Bruyne to terrorise a meak Arsenal defence, setting up the Belgian for the opener. The Norwegian came close to grabbing himself a goal multiple times in the first half and finally got in on the act in stoppage time to make it four for City.

Substitutes:

Riyad Mahrez – N.A

Julian Alvarez – N.A

Phil Foden – 7

Set up Haaland for City’s fourth and looked sharp all-round after coming on in the closing stages.