Arsenal 5-1 Man City: A new low for defending champions after Premier League rout?
2025-02-03
Category: sports

"This feels like a new low for the defending Premier League champions," said BBC Radio 5 Live commentator John Murray as the final whistle went on another miserable day for Manchester City.City, who have won five of the past six English titles, are 15 points behind leaders Liverpool after a 5-1 thrashing at Arsenal - although in reality the title has been long gone.For the first time in Pep Guardiola's trophy-laden managerial career, his team have conceded four or more goals in four different games in one season.They have let in 53 goals in 36 games - only one off the last campaign's total of 54 goals conceded (in 59 games)."It's sad to see," said former City defender Micah Richards on Sky Sports. "I don't expect them to win the league every year, but the fall-off has been so dramatic."I wouldn't say the end of era, [but] maybe coming to an end."
What happened at the Emirates?
Arsenal took a second-minute lead as captain Martin Odegaard took advantage of a defensive error.City have now committed eight errors leading to goals in the Premier League this season, their most in a campaign under Guardiola.Erling Haaland levelled for City in the 55th minute with a fantastic header - and from there you wondered if they would find their groove and go on to win.But what happened was the exact opposite. They imploded and Arsenal went on to teach them a lesson.City were level for just 105 seconds before Thomas Partey put Arsenal back ahead.Goals from teenagers Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri sandwiched a Kai Havertz strike.As Nwaneri struck number five, Radio 5 Live summariser Matt Upson declared that "Man City are completely broken".Arsenal, who have finished second to City for the past two years, are six points off leaders Liverpool and arguably the Reds' only real title rivals now.
'It swung the wrong way for us'
Anyone from City speaking to the media afterwards was well aware of the period when it all went wrong."It is hard to put into words straight after a game like that. Pride hurts. Sorry to the fans that have travelled to come and watch that," defender John Stones told Sky Sports."How we played in the last 30 minutes was not acceptable. "For 65 minutes, we played some great football at times. We were in the game and it was a swinging point. It swung the wrong way for us. I am angry, upset personally and collectively about how the game finished."Guardiola, speaking to the BBC, said: "I only regret the last 25 minutes."We forgot to do what we should do, what we have done for 65 or 70 minutes. "The rest was a really good game for our side. It's difficult to understand when you see the result, but this is my feeling."
No corner has been turned
City have achieved near footballing perfection over the past few years, winning four consecutive titles and five out of six.It is just over 18 months since they won the Treble of Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League.At the start of November, they were unbeaten in 32 Premier League games.A run of six games without a win in all competitions, starting in late October, was followed by a win over Nottingham Forest - but then three more matches without a win.Other lows have included a 4-1 loss to Sporting, a 2-1 derby defeat by Manchester United, a 4-0 home reverse against Tottenham, and blowing a 3-0 lead to draw 3-3 with Feyenoord. So far this year their only defeat had been against Paris St-Germain in the Champions League, but the result against Arsenal was just proof that no real corner has been turned.This is the season when the club will discover their punishment for an alleged 115 Premier League rule charge breaches, but on the pitch they have a similarly long list of concerns.Guardiola said: "It's happened all season, we are giving away too many things. We are aware this cannot happen, it happened."City have 41 points - their lowest tally after 24 league games since 2008/09.They remain fourth, but Newcastle, Chelsea and Bournemouth are all within a point of them.