Arsenal 5-1 Man City: Myles Lewis-Skelly, Martin Odegaard, Thomas Partey, Kai Havertz and Ethan Nwaneri score as Gunners thrash struggling champions

Arsenal thrashed Manchester City 5-1 at a buoyant Emirates Stadium to send Mikel Arteta's side back within six points of Liverpool.

Premier League leaders Liverpool had raised the pressure by beating Bournemouth on Saturday but Arsenal offered up a statement victory in reply to pile more misery on the struggling champions.

Substitute Ethan Nwaneri's stunning goal in stoppage time, curled into the corner after cutting inside from the right, completed the rout and came after fellow academy graduate Myles Lewis-Skelly had scored Arsenal's third.

Lewis-Skelly celebrated in the style of Erling Haaland, who had earlier pulled Manchester City level following Martin Odegaard's second-minute opener but who the home fans relished taunting following the explosive scenes in the 2-2 draw in September.

City were only level for 105 seconds after Haaland nodded in Savinho's cross, with Thomas Partey instantly cutting out a woeful Phil Foden pass and sending a deflected shot past Stefan Ortega.

Manchester City proceeded to completely collapse, with Lewis-Skelly driving into the box and adding the third goal before Kai Havertz, who had missed a glaring chance in the first half, fired clinically into the corner for Arsenal's fourth.

The home fans were already celebrating in preparation for the final whistle when an incredible afternoon got even better for them, Nwaneri cushioning a long, diagonal pass from the excellent Declan Rice and finding the corner in brilliant style.

Arsenal had needed big saves from David Raya to deny Josko Gvardiol and Savinho in the first half but the visitors had no reply to the second-half onslaught as they suffered their heaviest away Premier League defeat since a 4-0 loss to Everton in 2017.

They have conceded four or more goals on four separate occasions this season, which is the most in a single campaign in Guardiola's managerial career

Their latest loss leaves them nine points behind Arsenal in fourth place, while the Gunners close the gap on Liverpool, who have a game in hand to come against Everton.

Arsenal show 'fire' and relish taunting Haaland

The animosity between the two sides spilled over in the 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium in September, during which Haaland taunted the young Lewis-Skelly. "It was like he was going to eat him," said Sky Sports' Gary Neville on co-commentary at the time.

Lewis-Skelly's celebration, after scoring Arsenal's third goal on Sunday, seemed a direct response to that taunt and Gabriel also enjoyed the opportunity to get one over on the Norwegian striker, celebrating in his face after Odegaard's opening goal.

Haaland's comments to Arteta to "stay humble" after that game in September was thrown back at him by the home fans, while Rice admitted the players were motivated by their last meeting.

"To win 5-1 is an unbelievable scoreline," Rice told Sky Sports. "We had fire in our bellies from what happened at the Etihad at the start of the season, we really wanted to amend that. I think we did.

"It was an even game up until the third goal. They posed a threat, had a lot of the ball. We had to sit deep. Even though we won 5-1, Man City are a top team.

"It's been building up over a certain amount of time," he added of the rivalry. "They nicked the title off Arsenal when I wasn't here and then they beat us to the title.

"It's been hard to accept that and then everything that went on at the Etihad, you do get that fire in your stadium. The boys are buzzing. We are still off the top and that's where we want to be."

Guardiola was cryptic on Arsenal's celebrations in his press conference, saying "that's good" sarcastically when told about Lewis-Skelly's celebration and adding, "Did you like my answer?" as he left the room.

Henry: Haaland didn't do enough

Haaland scored Manchester City's equaliser from his only shot on goal and only touched the ball nine times all game, with Thierry Henry unimpressed by his contribution in the Sky Sports studio.

"I wouldn't have been able to cope - something would have happened, I would have gone to get it, touch it back, do something.

"It's a skill, David Trezeguet had it that even though he didn't touch the ball he could stay concentrated and put the ball in the net.

"What can you do when your team can't help you? Can you run into the channels? Can you be available?

"If you're not moving so much when your team is on the ball or taking care of the ball, it's not enough. But he will still score when he plays like that and he did."

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