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Manchester City are into the fifth round of the FA Cup at the expense of Arsenal after a 1-0 victory at the Etihad
Nathan Ake was the unlikely hero as Manchester City edged past Arsenal into the fifth round of the FA Cup with a 1-0 win at the Etihad Stadium.
With just five points separating the sides in the Premier League in what is shaping up to be a fascinating race for the title, their first meeting this campaign never really lived up to its billing.
Despite making six changes, Mikel Arteta’s side created the better opportunities in the opening half, with Leandro Trossard, making his full debut – causing quite a stir down the left flank. He set the tempo as early as the ninth minute when he pulled a dangerous cross back to Takehiro Tomiyasu, who forced a save from Stefan Ortega.
The Belgian tested the reactions of City’s deputy goalkeeper before setting up Eddie Nketiah whose first-time near-post finish was wide of the target.
City made a slow start to proceedings by their standards but could have gone ahead when Kevin De Bryune’s curler drifted agonisingly wide.
The breakthrough didn’t come until just after the hour mark when Ake’s side-footed effort from an angle found the far corner after Jack Grealish kept an attack alive following Julian Alvarez's shot against the post.
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And while Arsenal made a positive response to falling behind, they failed to create a clear-cut opportunity as City inflicted just a fourth defeat of the season on the North London side.
Player of the match – Nathan Ake (Man City)
Not only did the Netherlands international score the game's winning goal, he also kept one of the country’s most in-form players in Bukayo Saka quiet in what was a splendid all-round display.
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