Ake’s strike dumps Arsenal out of FA Cup. With a 1-0 victory over Arsenal on Friday, Nathan Ake’s goal gave Manchester City the upper hand. Pep Guardiola’s team advances to the FA Cup fifth round.
In the Premier League, the teams will face off twice more in the following three months with the championship on the line.
At the top of the standings, Arsenal is five points ahead of the reigning champions, but they suffered their first loss since November at the Etihad.
The Gunners lacked their typical spark in the final third as a result of Mikel Arteta’s six substitutions, which included Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Martinelli.
Leandro Trossard, who took over for Martinelli, however, fared well in his complete debut.
Before forcing the German goalkeeper into the finest save of the first half, Trossard set up Takehiro Tomiyasu to sting Stefan Ortega’s hands.
Rob Holding occasionally had to physically restrain Erling Haaland at the other end to keep him calm.
With Arsenal goalkeeper Matt Turner isolated, the Norwegian attempted a long-range overhead kick that Tomiyasu well cleared before Kevin De Bruyne curled City’s finest shot of the opening period just inches wide.
By inserting William Saliba for Holding with the Englishman on a booking at the interval, Arteta didn’t take any chances.
Only one outfield alteration was made by Guardiola following City’s 3-0 victory against Wolves.
However, Julian Alvarez, one of his substitutions, was responsible for igniting the second half 26 minutes from time.
After the Argentine’s long-range shot bounced against the post, Jack Grealish found Ake with a ball, and Ake curled into the far corner.
In response, Martinelli, Odegaard, and Oleksandr Zinchenko were attacked by Arteta.
Only a fantastic clearing from Aymeric Laporte prevented Eddie Nketiah from converting after the visitors almost immediately retaliated.
However, Arsenal was unable to generate another opportunity for an equalizer as City easily saw out the game to establish themselves as the preeminent power in English football.
