Rampant Manchester City crushes Arsenal, 4-1, with De Bruyne double

MANCHESTER — A Kevin De Bruyne-inspired Manchester City struck a hammer blow in the Premier League title race as they outclassed leaders Arsenal 4-1 with an electrifying display in a seismic clash of the top two at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday.

Pep Guardiola’s relentless side ran riot as they made it 12 successive league wins against Arsenal with a masterful Mr. De Bruyne scoring twice and Erling Haaland also on target as City seized control of their destiny.

Mr. De Bruyne fired City ahead in the seventh minute from Haaland’s pass and the hosts bombarded Arsenal’s goal before John Stones deservedly doubled their lead with a header in first half stoppage time.

Arsenal, who began the clash five points clear but having drawn three successive games, looked powerless to stop the onslaught and when Mr. De Bruyne struck again early in the second half it became a damage-limitation operation for the leaders.

Rob Holding grabbed an 86th-minute consolation but it was too little too late for Mikel Arteta’s side and City now look firm favorites to claim a fifth title in six seasons.

Mr. Haaland finally got on the scoresheet in stoppage time for his 49th goal of the season in all competitions — the most by a top-flight player in England since Clive Allen in 1986-87.

City’s seventh successive league win left them with 73 points to Arsenal’s 75, but crucially they have played two fewer games than the Londoners whose hopes of a first title since 2004 now look forlorn after four games without a win.

Guardiola’s City have trailed Arsenal for almost the entire season but will go top if they beat Fulham at the weekend.

A damaging April took the wind out of Arsenal’s sails but a first league win over City since 2015 would have put them put them back in charge of the race.

Unlike against bottom Southampton in Friday’s frenetic 3-3 draw they got through the opening minute without conceding.

But the writing was on the wall as Mr. Haaland and Mr. De Bruyne began to combine to devastating effect.

Mr. Haaland showed great strength to control a high ball and send Mr. De Bruyne racing away with a neat pass and the Belgian advanced before nonchalantly curling a shot inside the post.

ARSENAL FRAGILITYCity sensed Arsenal’s fragility and went for the jugular, tearing through the visitors lines at will.

Mr. De Bruyne looked poised for a carbon copy of his opener as Arsenal’s high-line defense was again caught out but this time his shot was blocked. Minutes later Aaron Ramsdale denied Mr. Haaland as the Norwegian bullied his way through more flimsy defending.

Mr. Haaland forced another sharp save from Mr. Ramsdale before Arsenal finally threatened with Thomas Partey shooting wide.

The onslaught continued though and Haaland thought he had scored only to see his left-footed shot flash wide before yet again forcing a save from Ramsdale.

Had Arsenal reached halftime a goal down it would have felt like a psychological victory, but Stones rose to head in Mr. De Bruyne’s lethal delivery in stoppage time.

The goal was initially ruled offside but a VAR check showed Mr. Stones was played on by a chunk of Ben White’s foot.

If Arsenal still harboured any hopes of salvaging something they vanished in the 54th minute when Mr. Haaland fed Mr. De Bruyne for another silky finish past Mr. Ramsdale.

Treble-chasing City throttled back and Arsenal gave their fans some cheer when Holding fired in from the edge of the area.

But Mr. Haaland had the last laugh as City, who are in the FA Cup final and face Real Madrid in the Champions League semis, made it 28 points from the last 30 on offer. — Reuters