City thrash United to extend lead, Arsenal climb to top 4
Defeat means there is now a 22-point gap between the clubs and is another blow to United’s chances of just qualifying for the CL whereas the victory lited Arteta’s men into fourth place in the EPL — one point ahead of United
Kevin De Bruyne and Riyad Mahrez scored twice as Manchester City reopened a six-point lead at the top of the Premier League by brushing aside Manchester United 4-1 at the Etihad on Sunday.
Defeat means there is now a 22-point gap between the clubs and is another blow to United’s chances of just qualifying for the Champions League next season.
The Red Devils now trail Arsenal by a point in fourth, who also have three games in hand.
At the top of the table, Liverpool also have a game in hand to reduce City’s advantage to three points.
But Pep Guardiola’s men responded to the pressure applied by the Reds’ seven-game winning run in the league by bouncing back from two sup-par performances against Totenham and Everton.
Just as in their meeting at Old Trafford earlier in the season, there was a gulf in class between the sides as City secured just a second league double over their local rivals since an Abu Dhabi takeover in 2008 swung the balance of power in Manchester.
United were without the injured Cristiano Ronaldo and Edinson Cavani in atack, but it was defenders Raphael Varane and Luke Shaw, missing due to positive cases of coronavirus, whose presence was most keenly missed.
The visitors were breached by City’s first sustained atack as Bernardo Silva’s low cross found De Bruyne completely unmarked to sweep home from just inside the box.
Despite their dominance over United when it comes to finishing higher in the table in recent years, City had only won one of the last seven derbies at the Etihad.
Unitedhaveconsistentlyhadjoyonthecounteratack in that run and the pace of Jadon Sancho and Anthony Elanga caused problems once more.
Sancho let City as a 17-year-old to make his name at Borussia Dortmund ater growing tired of waiting for a pathway into the first team.
The England international took time to find his feet at United ater returning to the Premier League for huge £73 million ($97 million) fee.
But Sancho has been one of the few successes of Ralf Rangnick’s interim spell in charge and produced a stunning finish into the far corner on 22 minutes.
United captain Harry Maguire had to cope with more reports this week of members of his own team questioning whether he is of the required standard to lead the team.
More criticism is sure to come Maguire’s way as he was wrong-footed twice for City’s second.
Phil Foden looped the ball over his England teammate and when he was denied by a brilliant save from David de Gea, the loose ball finally found its way to De Bruyne to smash home.
Rangnick’s men then had to sustain a period of pressure just to get to half-time still in the game.
Foden fired wide from a perfect De Bruyne pass before more De Gea heroics prevented Riyad Mahrez finding the botom corner.
The one way traffic continued ater the break and only another day this season when De Gea was United’s best performer prevented an even more embarrassing rout.
The Spaniard held onto De Bruyne’s fierce free-kick before Mahrez blazed over from the edge of the area.
But United did not learn their lesson as the Algerian was let unmarked at the edge of the box when he was picked out by De Bruyne’s corner and connected sweetly to find the far corner.
De Gea was forced into further saves from Mahrez and Joao Cancelo.
But even he could not stop Mahrez’s powerful effort to rub salt into United wounds in stoppage time ater VAR ruled the City winger was not offside.
ARSENAL BEAT WATFORD : Bukayo Saka starred as Arsenal leapfrogged United into the top four with a 3-2 win at struggling Waford.
Martin Odegaard struck early for the visitors before Cucho Hernandez equalised with a stunning overhead kick minutes later but England star Saka restored Arsenal’s lead in an entertaining first half.
Brazilian winger Gabriel Martinelli made it 3-1 early in the second half and the Gunners held out for a crucial win despite a late goal from Moussa Sissoko.
The victory lited Mikel Arteta’s men into fourth place in the Premier League -- one point ahead of United.
Arteta, whose team started the season with three straight league defeats, said it was “very pleasing” to be in the top four, although he felt the win should have been more comfortable.