Manchester City drew first blood against last night as Arsenal as Nathan Ake’s strike earned Pep Guardiola’s men a place in the fifth round of the FA Cup with a 1-0 win.
The Dutch defender was the unlikely match-winner with a composed finish to inflict a first defeat on Premier League leaders Arsenal since November.
Africa Today News, New York reports that the sides will meet twice more in the next three months in the Premier League with the title on the line.
Arsenal hold a five-point lead over the defending champions at the top of the table, but fell to their first defeat since November at the Etihad.
Mikel Arteta may regret making six changes as the Gunners lacked their usual spark in the final third with Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Martinelli among those left on the bench.
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However, Martinelli’s replacement, Leandro Trossard, did make a positive impression on his full debut.
The Belgian international teed up Takehiro Tomiyasu to sting the palms of Stefan Ortega before Trossard forced the German goalkeeper into the best save of the first half.
In between times at the other end, Rob Holding was having to resort to man-handling Erling Haaland to keep him quiet.
The Norwegian saw an ambitious overhead kick from long range cleared by Tomiyasu with Arsenal ‘keeper Matt Turner stranded before Kevin De Bruyne curled City’s best effort of the first half inches wide.
Arteta took no chances at the break by introducing William Saliba for Holding with the Englishman on a booking.
Africa Today News, New York reports that Guardiola had made just one outfield change from City’s 3-0 win over Wolves.