Arsenal vs. Manchester City score: Jack Grealish scores winner as Pep Guardiola's side top the Premier League

Two goals in the second half gave City all three points in a game closer than the score would indicate

Manchester City appear to be back in the driver's seat in the Premier League title race after earning a vital 3-1 win at Arsenal on Wednesday. City entered the day in second place but finish it in first, jumping the Gunners on goal differential. Kevin de Bruyne scored the opener on a Takehiro Tomiyasu error before a Bukayo Saka penalty leveled it before the break, but strikes in the second half by Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland allowed Pep Guardiola's team to secure a scoreline of a game that was much closer than that. 

The Gunners were at times sloppy on the ball and saw self-inflicted wounds provide City with the chances needed to win the game, and the visitors could punish them for the mistakes to take all three points in this heavyweight bout. 

City finished the game with just 36% possession but put away half of their six shots on frame, finishing with nine total shots. Arsenal, despite 64% possession, managed to put just one of their 10 shots on frame, stretching their winless streak in all competitions to four. 

With the win, City and Arsenal are level on 51 points. City have a plus-10 goal differential as compared to Arsenal, though the Gunners still have a game in hand.

[Feb 15, 2023 at 4:20 pm ET · James Benge]

Not a 3-1 game

Arsenal won't meet many more opponents who can punish their mistakes in such emphatic fashion and there's a feeling of real dejection around the ground. Almost everyone here would attest this wasn't a 3-1 game even if City were certainly the better team as it wore on, particularly when they plugged up their obvious hole at left back. On another day this could have gone Arsenal's way earlier but their tired legs cost them dearly, should Arteta have introduced White sooner for instance?

[Feb 15, 2023 at 4:17 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

82' Goal City! Haaland!

It's 3-1! A tidy finish inside the box after forcing a turnover on pressure from Kyle Walker. 

[Feb 15, 2023 at 4:08 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Tough for Gunners

A lot went wrong there for Arsenal. Gabriel turns the ball over, Saliba is out of position and the ball hits Tomiyasu to sneak by Ramsdale. 

[Feb 15, 2023 at 4:07 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

73' Goal City! Grealish!

It's 2-1 to City! Haaland plays Gundogan at the top of the box, and the German takes a quick touch to Grealish to who finishes low and with some pace! 2-1!

[Feb 15, 2023 at 4:04 pm ET · James Benge]

Nerves are building

I suspect every supporter of both teams knows that they should trust their players to play out from the back like this but it's really giving stress headaches to them both, in particular those of an Arsenal persuasion. Zinchenko is so comfortable as to be cavalier in losing the ball right on the edge of his box but goes unpunished because Ramsdale closed him down.

[Feb 15, 2023 at 3:56 pm ET · James Benge]

Guardiola shuffles his system

After 60 weird, wild minutes down the City left, Manuel Akanji replaces Mahrez and Ake shuffles across to left back, where he did an outstanding job on Saka in the FA Cup fourth round a few weeks ago. It seemed curious that they didn't try this from the off as opposed to leaving a creative midfielder on an island defensively. One wonders if Guardiola will continue with this plan in future.

[Feb 15, 2023 at 3:54 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

No penalty! Offside in the build-up!

Nearly a massive moment for City. Arsenal will take that as they continue to have the momentum in the second half. 30 minutes to go here in a game that could play a huge role in the title race.

[Feb 15, 2023 at 3:51 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

55' Penalty for City?

A penalty is called as Haaland is taken down in the box, but it is being reviewed for offside. Will it stand?

[Feb 15, 2023 at 3:39 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

46' Second half is underway at the Emirates

The second half has begun with no changes for either side.

[Feb 15, 2023 at 3:24 pm ET · James Benge]

An even game

That certainly felt like a battle between England's two best teams even if neither of them could quite get into top gear, perhaps because they were cancelling each other out quite effectively. City certainly have shown themselves ready to adapt to Arsenal's strengths, going long to Haaland's head as a way of beating the press. The Norwegian is winning the first balls but the second ones are going the way of the hosts for now. Meanwhile Saka is rifling through Bernardo Silva on the left flank, surely Guardiola will have to change that at the break.

[Feb 15, 2023 at 3:21 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

45'+6' Nearly a second for City!

Rodri's header off a free kick hits Ake's foot right in front of goal and hits off the crossbar as Ramsdale knocks it out for a corner! What a chance that was! City knocking on the door alte.

[Feb 15, 2023 at 3:16 pm ET · James Benge]

An intriguing debate on that penalty

You're half inclined to offer some sympathy for Ederson, who did what the goalkeeper should do by coming out and making himself big to get near a shot that Nketiah got away regardless. Ultimately the striker did manage to get an effort on goal so you often see officials conclude that there's no penalty but when you watch it back it feels like a foul. Nketiah has been clattered in the box and might have been scrambling for that clearance off the line were it not for colliding with Ederson.

Either way it's a vital moment for Arsenal, as Saka shows the composure that is almost a given where he is concerned now. The Emirates is rocking.

[Feb 15, 2023 at 3:12 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

42' ⚽ GOAL ARSENAL!!! Saka!!!!

It's 1-1! Saka converts it with ease, placing it low to Ederson's right as the Brazilian dove the other way. Back to square one now after a hectic first 40 minutes or so. 

[Feb 15, 2023 at 3:11 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

40' Seems a tad harsh...

Ederson's impact on the play did not alter Nketiah's shot ... but it's still given. That's a tough one, but the Gunners will gladly take it. Saka up to attempt the penalty. 

[Feb 15, 2023 at 3:10 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Penalty?!

39 minutes in, Nketiah is played through by Xhaka, and his effort is cleared off the line, but there is a penalty given! Looks like Ederson colliding into Nketiah...interesting...

[Feb 15, 2023 at 3:05 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

De Bruyne's goal

[Feb 15, 2023 at 3:01 pm ET · James Benge]

Arsenal respond in style

Twice since that goal Arsenal have got to good spots in the penalty area, Tomiyasu blazing over and then Saka sending Ake sprawling to the deck. There's passion around a ground that is getting increasingly indignant over what they perceive to be timewasting from Ederson at goal kicks. Referee Anthony Taylor has a word with captain Ilkay Gundogan but for now doesn't go to his book, something that will aggrieve home supporters even more considering Bernardo has not been booked after several fouls on Saka.

[Feb 15, 2023 at 3:00 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

29' Indecisive from Saka

Odegaard and Saka do well to combine as the Englishman enters the right side of the box, but instead of firing a shot, he takes a few too many touches and sees his late effort blocked well by Ake.

[Feb 15, 2023 at 2:55 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

24' ⚽ GOAL CITY! 1-0! De Bruyne!

It's a fantastic start for the visitors! Kevin de Bruyne scores from well outside of the box with a lovely finish, but it's Arsenal's fault as Tomiyasu aims to play it back to Ramsdale before the Belgian approaches the loose ball and lifts it into the net with a clever, well-placed finish!

[Feb 15, 2023 at 2:52 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

22' What a chance!

Nketiah! Nearly! Great from Arsenal as Zinchenko picks up a ball that is poked away from Martinelli, and his quick curling ball goes right into the heart of the box, but the young forward heads wide! What a good look that was from the Gunners.

[Feb 15, 2023 at 2:51 pm ET · James Benge]

Half an injury worry for Arsenal

A few minutes after giving the ball a big boot with his right foot, Ramsdale is down with that boot off. USMNT international Matt Turner is out on the sidelines as the Emirates Stadium holds its breath; there are few players more important to the way Arsenal build attacks than their goalkeeper. However Turner warms up with the languidity of someone who doesn't expect to come on. That proves to be the case and Ramsdale is back up soon after.

[Feb 15, 2023 at 2:43 pm ET · James Benge]

So... Bernardo

There had been all sorts of speculation and debate over how City would line up at left back now Joao Cancelo is gone, I don't think many saw it being elegant inside right Bernardo Silva. But when Guardiola's side don't have the ball that is what they're doing, asking the creative midfielder to guard Saka to mixed success so far. Twice already he has fouled the Arsenal No.7 but the first wasn't called and City ultimately got a corner. Arsenal are, unsurprisingly, focusing their attacks down that flank but to no avail so far.

[Feb 15, 2023 at 2:31 pm ET · James Benge]

Kick off

Away we go, Arsenal pinging the ball in front of a rowdy ground. They're seeing plenty of it from the outset as Martinelli steals possession just inside the City third. Both Nketiah and Xhaka get early efforts away, the former blocked by Dias before Xhaka blazes over from outside the box.

[Feb 15, 2023 at 2:28 pm ET · James Benge]

The teams are out

Manchester City fans greet the Premier League anthem with a chorus of whistles and boos -- I cannot imagine having an emotional reaction to such an anodyne piece of music -- but it is swiftly drowned out by the chants of the home support, who seem determined to turn this into fortress Emirates. 

[Feb 15, 2023 at 2:20 pm ET · James Benge]

Not long to go

The noise is starting to build as the Emirates Stadium fills up, supporters making their way over from pubs that were heaving in the hours before kick off. Already the Ashburton Army that inhabit the front rows of the Clock End are hammering their drum and waving flags, a cry of Arsenal emanating from on high.

[Feb 15, 2023 at 2:07 pm ET · James Benge]

One notable tactical change

City line up rather as we suspected, this curious 3-3-3-1 that Guardiola has adopted in an attempt to get the best out of Haaland. Arsenal's side bears two changes from the one who drew with Brentford, we already told you about Partey's absence but the most intriguing is the presence of Tomiyasu at right back. 

He takes White's place in the XI and perhaps there is nothing more to it than swapping out players. Equally when City could be attacking down the left touchline one moment and driving infield the next, how valuable might it be to have a truly two-footed defender like Tomiyasu? We are about to find out.

[Feb 15, 2023 at 1:37 pm ET · James Benge]

Teams in full

Arsenal XI: Ramsdale; Tomiyasu, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Jorginho; Saka, Odegaard, Xhaka, Martinelli; Nketiah
Subs: Turner, Tierney, White, Kiwior, Holding, Trossard, Vieira, Nelson, Cozier-Duberry

Manchester City XI: Ederson; Walker, Dias, Ake; Bernardo, Rodri, Gundogan; Mahrez, De Bruyne, Grealish; Haaland
Subs: Ortega, Phillips, Laporte, Alvarez, Gomez, Akanji, Foden, Palmer, Lewis

[Feb 15, 2023 at 1:28 pm ET · James Benge]

Team news in moments

We've seen that Thomas Partey has arrived at the Emirates, could he be about to shock the world by featuring in the squad? I reported a few hours ago that he is out of tonight's game and is likely to miss the game against Aston Villa on Saturday too -- the only explanation for any change of mind is that Arteta has opted to take an almighty gamble.

[Feb 15, 2023 at 1:10 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Manchester City storylines

Erling Haaland has featured in all bar one of City's Premier League games this season, starting 20 of 22, but could be unavailable for the trip to north London after limping out of the win over Aston Villa on Sunday. Julian Alvarez is a more than capable alternative but the Emirates Stadium would doubtless exhale in relief if the Norwegian were nowhere to be seen come Wednesday.

"Erling has a knock; he was uncomfortable," said Pep Guardiola. "At halftime, I spoke with the doctors. They said maybe with the score like it is we don't take risks, and I agreed.

"If the score was tighter, then maybe I don't do it. I think he is not injured but on Monday we are going to see. Hopefully, he can be in for Wednesday. But if he is not ready or there is some risk, he is not going to play." -James Benge

[Feb 15, 2023 at 1:00 pm ET · Roger Gonzalez]

Arsenal storylines

A second winless game -- the first time this has happened to them in the Premier League this season -- was rather tempered by a sense of injustice around Arsenal at the way in which Brentford's equalizer was allowed to stand on Saturday. Ivan Toney flicked in from close range but, having spent three minutes analyzing Ethan Pinnock's grappling with Gabriel, VAR Lee Mason failed to draw lines that would have shown Christian Norgaard was offside in teeing up his teammate.

Arsenal have received an explanation from head of refereeing Howard Webb over the decision but they would rather the two points that they might have held on to earn despite an insipid display against Brentford. There will certainly be close attention paid to the officials; John Brooks had been due to serve as VAR for this match but paid the price for his own critical error that robbed Brighton of a goal on Saturday. His place will be taken by David Coote. -James Benge