Ryan in a late rush for Russia
RUTHLESS, relentless and rapidly closing in on a first title under Pep.
They’d already carved up their rivals in the League Cup last Sunday. Here Manchester City were returning to take the last bits of meat off the bone.
At times you felt for Arsenal as their fragile confidence was smashed to bits in front of their own fans. You certainly felt for Arsene Wenger, who like an ageing boxer embarrassingly insisted he could still cope with one last fight.
City’s performance, however, is the new standard in the Premier League. The bar has been raised and, right now, Wenger’s Arsenal are nowhere near it.
This was City’s response to the suggestions that Guardiola’s men could hand the Gunners a chance by dining out on their League Cup success.
These performances continue to be the riposte to all of those detractors who, last season, scoffed at the idea that Guardiola’s all-stars could pass their way to the title. After Wembley, Guardiola and his men rubber-stamped their superiority at the Emirates.
Kevin De Bruyne (above), Leroy Sane and David Silva led from the front, running rings around their hosts.
Even at the back City were superior yet again, proof of where a commitment to coaching your players to sense danger gets you.
Because while Wenger was nudged even closer towards stark reality and the history books, Guardiola continues to write his name into City legend.
This wasn’t just a victory to leave Arsenal having to face up to the inevitable. It was yet another statement that a new order has been formed in the Premier League.
It leaves City with the opportunity to continue building from a position of frightening strength. Now there is only the Champions League to conquer, the quality in that competition far more of a test of their abilities than the Premier League has provided.
Arsenal here were a warm-up. Chelsea have already been seen off this season. Surely they will put up more of a fight on Sunday than the white flag run up by the Gunners here yet again. FULHAM prodigy Ryan Sessegnon has been backed to make a late push for England’s World Cup squad.
Sessegnon, 17, part of England’s Under-19s Eurowinning squad, has been in sensational form in the Championship this season.
Tottenham, Manchester City and Monaco are all tracking his progress.
Cottagers boss Slavisa Jokanovic believes the attacking left-back can emulate previous Three Lions teenagers and make a late push to be in Gareth Southgate’s squad for the tournament in Russia.
Jokanovic said: “My opinion is that he has shown the quality for Fulham, he’s shown the quality for the Under-19s, won the Euros, top-scorer in the tournament – but it’s not my decision.
“If he goes to the World Cup, Ryan will be of a similar age to Michael Owen and Theo Walcott (when they went).
“But if they decide not this time, then I’m still sure he will be part of the next Euros or next World Cup. 100 per cent. If not, then 99 per cent he will be there.”