Sometimes life gives you a little bit of joy and today, joy came in the form of Kevin de Bruyne. Scoring twice and assisting Raheem Sterling, he was the best player by a mile as Manchester City eased to a 3-0 victory over Arsenal.
The line-ups were announced and I was immediately worried for Arsenal. A back four of Maitland-Niles, Chambers, Sokratis and Kolasinac is simply not good enough for a team that wants to reach the Champions League, and they played like it. Fernandinho was again selected as a defender but only one thing, one player mattered this afternoon. A Belgian in midfield for Manchester City.
Believe it or not, Arsenal did actually have the first chance of the match. Gabriel Martinelli managed to shrug off the City defenders but he shot straight at Ederson. The subsequent attack from Manchester City brought the first goal. It was a theme throughout for City to target Maitland-Niles, a natural midfielder continuously played out of position at right back. Gabriel Jesus turned his marker in the box and his pull back reached de Bruyne who arrowed a strike into the roof of the net.
It was a wonderful goal and one we've come to expect from him. Only two minutes in but it already seemed like game over. Arsenal offered nothing going forward and their poor quality defence meant Manchester City didn't have to be that good. The second again came from City's left, targeting Maitland-Niles. This time de Bruyne was the provider as his cross took a slight touch off Chambers so the ball drifted passed Kolasinac to Sterling who was waiting patiently at the back post.
Every time de Bruyne touched the ball you were almost in awe of him. He was clearly on a different planet to the other 21 players on the pitch and he would get a second and City's third. Kolasinac went off injured so while Arsenal were down to ten men, from Phil Foden's pass, he curled a lovely effort into the bottom corner and he just oozed class. It was gorgeous. Sumptuous. Everything you've come to expect from Manchester City and the same with Arsenal.
De Bruyne almost got a hat trick only for Leno to stop him. About 25 yards out, de Bruyne wrapped his foot around the ball and fired a shoot that was expertly saved by a diving Leno's fingertips. The Emirates had started to empty. 3-0 down to Kevin de Bruyne and their side showing no signs of getting back into the match.
Manchester City didn't have to try in the second half as there was almost no difference in the Arsenal performance. Jesus, de Bruyne, Sterling and Mahrez missed decent chances to extend City's lead but the most notable event of the second half was Mesut Ozil kicking the air in frustration upon being substituted, showing more energy and passion when off the pitch than when being on it.
This was Freddie Ljungberg's chance to show the Arsenal board that he could be the man to lead the club into the future. The manner of the defeat means the process to find a permanent manager will be accelerated and Ljungberg will not be considered. It was nothing out of the ordinary from Arsenal over recent times.
The win for Manchester City keeps them 3rd but reduces their deficit to Leicester to 4 points and them two meet next week. Arsenal remain in mid table obscurity and the need to find a manager is more important than ever. The club can't afford more losses and dreadful performances when Champions League football is a must for all top teams.
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