Aguero hat-trick fires Man City to 3-1 win
REUTERS - Sergio Aguero’s hattrick led Manchester
City to a 3-1 win over Arsenal on Sunday and back into second place in the Premier League, two points behind leaders Liverpool.
Juergen Klopp’s side have 61 points with champions City on 59 and Tottenham Hotspur on 57. City were utterly dominant after going in 2-1 up at the break, keeping Gunners keeper Bernd Leno busy as they peppered his goal with shots from distance while the Londoners, looking bereft of self-belief, did not manage a shot on target in the second half.
Pep Guardiola’s side needed a positive response after Tuesday’s surprise defeat at Newcastle United and within a minute any nerves among the home crowd vanished.
It took 48 seconds for Aguero to open the scoring with a stooping header after Aymeric Laporte had robbed a far-too casual Alex Iwobi and whipped in a cross.
City were dominant but the Gunners got back on level terms in the 11th minute when Nacho Monreal flicked on a Lucas Torreira corner and defender Laurent Koscielny headed in from two yards out.
But with Kevin De Bruyne beginning to put his injury troubles behind him and looking like his true self in midfield and Bernardo Silva teasing Arsenal from the right flank, City looked unperturbed by the equaliser.
It was no surprise when Aguero struck again just before the break, tapping in a low cross from Raheem Sterling, who had combined well with Ilkay Gundogan in the build-up.
City’s record scorer wrapped up the win with Sterling again the provider but as Aguero slid in to meet his low cross, the ball appeared to go in off his arm - a fact the player conceded after seeing the television replay.
“I thought it was the chest, but now that I’ve seen it on the TV, I think it was a handball,” he said.
“I’m very happy, it is important to score and win Its important to fight every game. Now we have to think about Everton (on Wednesday) because it will be so difficult,” he added.