Feeling chilly this wintry March morning? Our Friday morning papers and pixels picks should warm up anyone of a Blue persuasion.
City were in scintillating form for the second time in five days against the Gunners, producing a blizzard of first-half goals that had scribes reaching for the superlatives.
First to the Independent’s Miguel Delaney, who reported: “City were playing – and, really, gliding – on such a different level that single touches were instantly putting them into yards of space, while leaving Arsenal players literally falling over each other.
“That was especially the case for the brilliant break-away third goal, as Sane got the strike he deserved. He will rarely get one as easily. Bernardo Silva pushed the ball onto Sergio Aguero with one wondrous touch, the Argentine did the same for Kevin De Bruyne with another, and the Belgian then teed up Kyle Walker to square the ball for the German.”
READ:Arsenal 0-3 City verdict
Over to the Manchester Evening News reporter Stuart Brennan, who declared: “The Beast from the Eastlands swept into London wreaking havoc in its wake … and the weather was pretty bad, as well!
“Leroy Sane and his Manchester City teammates were red-hot in sub-zero temperatures and biting wind at the Emirates Stadium as they sliced through Arsenal like a Siberian storm.”
Sane also earned a rare 10 in the MEN player ratings, with Brennan adding of the German’s performance: “The first two goals were all about his electric pace and close control, and he deserved to notch the third – a huge star in the making.”
The Guardian’s report ran under the headline: “Leroy Sané is catalytic converter as Manchester City pummel Arsenal again”
Journalist David Hytner reported: “City’s cohesion and ruthlessness was really something. Sané was the architect of the second goal, dropping his shoulder to destroy Shkodran Mustafi before squaring for Sergio Agüero. He touched through for David Silva, who fired high inside Petr Cech’s near post.
“City’s third came with indecent haste. Agüero spun clear and the visitors worked the ball with venomous precision via Kevin De Bruyne and Kyle Walker to Sané, who had got in on Héctor Bellerín’s blindside. He finished almost apologetically.”
Finally Goal.com’s Jamie Smith picked yet another eye-catching stat from City’s performance.
He wrote: “City beat Arsenal by the same scoreline in Sunday’s EFL Cup final win at Wembley, giving Guardiola a first trophy after 18 months in English football.
“And the runaway Premier League leaders – now 16 points clear of rivals Manchester United – blew Arsenal away before the break, becoming the first team to score three goals away to the Gunners in the first half of a Premier League match.”
That’s your lot for this morning but stay tuned for more reaction throughout the day!
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