Manchester City Extends Lead with Dominant 3-0 Victory Over Arsenal

Manchester City strengthened their grip on the Premier League title race with a commanding 3-0 victory over Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium, extending their lead at the top of the table to five points with a game in hand.

Erling Haaland opened the scoring in the 23rd minute with a trademark finish, latching onto Kevin De Bruyne's perfectly weighted through ball before slotting past Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale. The Norwegian striker has now scored 28 goals in 26 league appearances this season, continuing his remarkable debut campaign in England.

City doubled their advantage just before halftime when Rodri found the bottom corner from the edge of the box after a corner kick was cleared directly to the Spanish midfielder. The goal showcased City's clinical finishing and Arsenal's defensive frailties under pressure from the champions.

The second half belonged entirely to the home side, with Pep Guardiola's team controlling possession and creating numerous chances. Jack Grealish sealed the victory in the 67th minute, curling a beautiful shot into the far corner after a flowing move involving Haaland and De Bruyne.

"We played with great intensity and focus today," Guardiola said after the match. "Arsenal are a very good team, but we showed our quality and experience in big moments. This is the level we need to maintain if we want to win the title again."

The defeat leaves Arsenal in second place, five points behind City but having played one more game. Mikel Arteta's side will need to find their form quickly with crucial fixtures against Liverpool and Manchester United coming up in the next fortnight. The Gunners have now lost three of their last six league matches, raising questions about their ability to sustain a title challenge against the experienced champions.