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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Jamie Jackson at the Etihad Stadium

Manchester City 4-1 Arsenal: player ratings from the Etihad Stadium

Manchester City

Ederson Not much to do and what he did he did admirably, though will be disappointed by no clean sheet. 7

Kyle Walker Surprise selection, was as sharp as the rest of the rearguard – when needed. One jet-heeled clearance oozed control. 7

John Stones Excellent. Header that beat Ramsdale had him hovering perfectly before going back across the keeper, his ball having earlier initiated move for De Bruyne. 8

Rúben Dias Cool as usual apart from booking for scrape of White’s leg on stroke of half-time. Marshalled defence expertly. 7

Manuel Akanji Buccaneering run that took him all the way into Arsenal’s area was emblematic of City’s aggression and intent. 7

Rodri Always looked to receive, used angles smartly and was up for any feisty stuff: he is rarely ruffled. 7

Ilkay Gündogan Presence ensured City’s rhythm was as smooth as can be – a pipe-and-slippers display of poise. 8

Bernardo Silva Joined the press when he could, fashioned triangles with De Bruyne and Walker, flitted about at will. 7

Kevin De Bruyne Scorching opener, so smart a finish for his second. Also a dinked free-kick that made Stones’s header. 9

Jack Grealish Saw scant early possession but raced back to dispossess Saka and one chip into Haaland that the No 9 should have smashed in. 7

Erling Haaland A menace. Control and pass for De Bruyne’s first was followed by assist for the Belgian’s second. Got his goal at the death. 9

Subs Mahrez (for Gündogan 72) 7, Álvarez (for De Bruyne 80) 7 , Foden (for Grealish 87) 7

Martin Ødegaard goes does under the challenge of Manuel Akanji
Martin Ødegaard (centre) endured a chastening game and was unable to assert his usual influence. Photograph: Simon Stacpoole/Offside/Getty Images

Arsenal

Aaron Ramsdale Will be disappointed not to have stopped either De Bruyne goal. Better were several saves off Haaland. Arsenal’s “best” player which says it all 5

Ben White Tremendous block of De Bruyne shot but was unable to get any grip on the latter or the bulldozing Haaland. 4

Rob Holding William Saliba’s stand-in will rue not clattering Haaland to stop him engineering first goal. Gains a mark for scoring. 4

Gabriel Magalhães Lucky not to concede an early penalty on De Bruyne; was made to appear an amateur on occasion. 5

Oleksandr Zinchenko Near-invisible. Grateful an error did not allow Silva to double lead. Part of pummelled defence. 4

Thomas Partey Frustrated alongside Xhaka, he spurned a long-range chance to equalise and could not disrupt City’s supreme midfield. 3

Granit Xhaka A non-factor who illustrated the gulf between sides as he would not be close to being a Pep Guardiola signing. Substituted. 3

Bukayo Saka Starved of quality – his corner at the end of the opening 45 was a rare bit of action for him. 5

Martin Ødegaard Anonymous first half from the captain got worse: after the break he ceded the ball to Haaland for City’s third. 3

Gabriel Martinelli Clumsy in the tackle, this game passed him by. The Brazilian was taken off and cannot complain. 3

Gabriel Jesus His face after first goal summed up his team’s struggles and from there they plunged. 5

Subs Jorginho 5 (for Xhaka, 60), Trossard 5 (for Martinelli, 60), Smith Rowe 5 (for Ødegaard, 71), Nelson 6 (for Saka, 80), Nketiah 6 (for Jesus, 80)

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