Manchester City 1-0 Arsenal; Nathan Aké strikes to help City knock out Gunners from FA Cup
In an electrifying match that unfolded in the Ethiad Stadium saw the clash of two Premier League giants who currently hold the top 2 positions in the Prem table right now, and along with that, it was a faceoff between the mentor and the pupil, Pep Guardiola against Mikel Arteta.
Manchester City have beaten Arsenal for the first time ever in the FA Cup since their first meeting ever in the tournament back in 1904, where City procured a 2-0 victory over the Gunners.
Man City emerge victorious over Arsenal in FA Cup
The show was dominated by Guardiola’s City in the statistical frontiers of ball possession and shots made. Although Arsenal had a better start in the first half, but the game soon reached a point of saturating deadlock, when both of the teams’ defenses seemed impenetrable.
City’s starstriker, Erling Haaland saw himself being the victim of heavy marking by Arteta’s men in defense and consequently a victim of rough play and fouls, and despite all that, the Norwegian almost scored through an athletic bicycle kick over the head of Arsenal goalkeeper Turner.
Goalkeepers from both ends made key saves, especially Ortega who stood like a wall in front of the sky blue’s defense when Tomiyasu and Trossard forced some key saves from him.
Nathan Ake grabs the winner for City
The deadlock between the defending champions and the table toppers came in the second half when Nathan Ake netted a brilliant goal by curling a low shot into the bottom corner with an assit from Grealish at the 64th minute of the match.
With this, Pep Guardiola’s City is through to the fifth round of the FA Cup and Guardiola has secured his 18th victory ever against the Gunners across all competitions, the most against any club in his entire managerial career.
“We were definitely better in the second half. Arsenal have taken a step forward. It was a tight game and you realize how good a side they are,” Guardiola said.
