No De Bruyne? No downside as ruthless Man City knock Arsenal off high spot

Apr 30, 2023 at 5:10 PM

erhaps Arsenal by no means really did have an opportunity. Perhaps Erling Haaland hitting 50 objectives by April and Manchester City bursting previous the Gunners on the house straight was as inevitable because the solar rising within the morning.

It feels as if it might take a altering of the winds unexplainable by the legal guidelines of nature for the brand new Premier League leaders to stumble now, such has been Arsenal’s current plight. Kevin De Bruyne was neglected with a niggle, and his alternative Julian Alvarez scored a goal-of-the-month contender in his absence. Perhaps that claims all of it about Pep Guardiola’s unstoppable juggernaut of a staff.

When dealing with City, simply as essential as what you do in your 5 days of preparation is that you simply don’t give away a penalty within the second minute. Marco Silva can have felt the apoplexy pumping via his veins as he watched Tim Ream dangle out a lazy leg, Alvarez tumble, and referee Simon Hooper level to the spot with out even feigning hesitation.

As the Fulham gamers protested beside him, Haaland hovered across the penalty spot, ball in hand, optimising his processing velocity, rebooting. Then he wound up in the direction of the ball and swung it into the nook with venom. 50 for the season, for City’s video-game striker.

Strength in depth: Julian Alvarez crammed in brilliantly for the absent Kevin De Bruyne for City

/ REUTERS

Until the quarter of an hour mark, the guests toyed with Fulham, creating openings, dictating play, and inflicting a few of the house followers merely to chuckle at the truth that their aspect had been simply as a lot spectators as they had been.

That stated, counter-attack proficiently, and simply generally you may harm the perfect staff within the land. Fulham did via Joao Palhinha’s lengthy ball ahead, Harry Wilson’s knock-down header and Carlos Vinicius’s thumping volley, and certain sufficient they had been degree. “Well, well, well”, remarked one Fulham fan.

After a spell of Fulham pluck after which a protracted stoppage whereas Ream was handled after which subbed for what appeared like a damaged wrist, City started to exert their class as soon as extra. Haaland fed Jack Grealish, whose shot was destined for the highest nook if not for Bernd Leno’s heroic full-stretch save.

De Bruyne was deemed “not fully fit” after inspiring City to victory over Arsenal in Wednesday’s essential match, so he didn’t journey down from Manchester. But injure one, and one other will deputise and rating a beaut. That is the inevitability of Manchester City, the sheer depth of their squad telling. Alvarez bent a superb shot that curled away from Leno and landed within the high nook. Not by any goalkeeper wherever might it have been prevented.

Injury concern: Fulham’s Andreas Pereira was stretchered off together with his proper leg in a brace

/ PA

Haaland and Alvarez had been electrical all afternoon, and each would have had their second objectives of the sport with out essential interventions from Leno early within the second half.

Fulham had already misplaced Ream to harm, however quickly one other man was off for the Cottagers — and in much more devastating circumstances. Andreas Pereira has been an impressed signing this season, however he landed horribly after an aerial problem with Manuel Akanji. Pereira — his proper leg totally enveloped in a brace — was finally stretchered off, with Tom Cairney his alternative.

As Kenny Tete argued in opposition to the linesman’s choice handy City reasonably than Fulham a throw-in, Haaland lay his arm across the Dutchman like a condescending older brother. City could not have been having fun with a large lead, however, because it so usually does, their recreation administration would see them via.

They wound down the tempo, handed vacuously between themselves, and shortly the ultimate whistle informed them they had been high of the League. They will certainly keep there.