Manchester City went to Arsenal on Sunday and outclassed the Gunngers for the entire first half to walk away with a comfortable 3-0 win. City stayed alive in the title race, but the club is still 14 points back of first-place Liverpool as we near the season's halfway mark. It was a needed result after losing at home to Manchester United last weekend. The Gunners, meanwhile, could not continue to rise after beating West Ham.
They suffered a defeat where there was little creativity and tensions were high as Mesut Ozil was visibly frustrated after he was substituted off. The loss puts Arsenal seven points back of the top four with a tricky stretch coming up including games against Chelsea and Manchester United.
Here are three takeaways from the match:
1. De Bruyne was on another level
Kevin De Bruyne played like a man possessed in this game. He terrorized Arsenal all game long. He finished with two goals and an assist to Raheem Sterling. He was creative, clinical and seemed to make the right play every time he got the ball.
The opening goal ended up being the winner, and it came off a fine finish inside the box just two minutes in. Here it is:
He then played a brilliant ball to Sterling for the second score 15 minutes in before finishing another world-class strike just before half time to make it 3-0.
De Bruyne is up to six Premier League goals this season.
2. Kolasinac was prime example of Arsenal's woes
Sead Kolasinac exemplified the Gunners' defensive problems. On the opening goal, he ducked his head instead of trying to clear it away. Not that he would have gotten to the strike from De Bruyne, but it's a bad look nonetheless.
Then on Sterling's goal, Kolasinac was trying to read only where the ball would go and lost track of Sterling. Once he misread it and the ball went behind, it was a simple tap in for Sterling.
Arsenal made it too easy for City all game long and was lucky the score line wasn't worse.
3. Gunners need someone new on the bench
Freddie Ljungberg was a great player, and down the road he may be a great manager, but the Gunners are lacking leadership and inspiration. It feels like a sinking ship, and they need to do something about it. Whether it is Carlo Ancelotti or Marcelino Garcia Toral, the club needs to bring somebody in as soon as possible. Why start Ozil if you are going to take him out with so much time left in the second half? If you are going to play on the counter, why is Alexandre Lacazette on the on the bench?
By the way, Arsenal finished with just one shot on goal.
CBS Sports was be with you the entire way providing updates, analysis, highlights and much more. You can relive City's win below.