Thumping loss to Gunners sums up City's new reality

A huge result, in many more senses than an incredible 5-1 margin.

- MIGUEL DELANEY

There was a lot more going on here than Pep Guardiola’s worst-ever league defeat, and a statement victory for Arsenal’s young side. It was full circle. This is what Manchester City had themselves subjected Mikel Arteta's side to before, but with far more edge to the celebrations.

Erling Haaland at least knows who Myles Lewis-Skelly is now. His City side, however, were left wondering where they were. The champions don’t look anything like a true Guardiola team, as they suffered a defeat that has been coming for weeks.

Arsenal, meanwhile, finally looked like what they should be. That was in no small part down to the assertiveness of their 18-year-old, whose urgency changed the entire tone of this game. It was also in quite a contrast of the meditative celebration that added insult to injured pride for Haaland and City. Lewis-Skelly went there, having surged through the champions.

It’s remarkable to think this match was in the balance for a time. There was a period where it looked like Arsenal were treating the opposition as if they were the City of 2023 rather than of 2025.

That ironically changed when Haaland rediscovered his touch and actually touched the ball again. The Norwegian’s brilliant header to equalise felt like the last time anyone in a City shirt did anything competently. It came in the 55th minute.

Haaland’s goal was like a moment of realisation that finally woke Arsenal up. They went from trying to protect an opening goal, gifted to them by City’s loose play on the edge of their own box, to rampaging at the visitors in a way that reminded them of their own best form from the last few years.