By Thys Khiba – The Manchester City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne has applauded City’s overall performance to secure a crucial 4-1 Premier League victory over title rival Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night.
FULL-TIME | BIG THREE POINTS! ????
???? 4-1 ???? #ManCity pic.twitter.com/2JkEWH2ORg
— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 26, 2023
“When they play man to man we just have to go a little bit longer because there’s no place for short passes. The first half we were really good.
“We could have scored more, but luckily the second goal wasn’t offside and it changed the game,” said De Bruyne.
The Belgian footballer opened the scoring with a superb low strike into the bottom corner from 20 yards, before setting up John Stones to double the lead shortly before the interval.
De Bruyne went on to score his second goal ten minutes after the interval with a clinical finish. This was before Rob Holding pulled a goal back for the visitors.
Kevin De Bruyne at his best ????
Brilliant link up play with Haaland to put City ahead!
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— SuperSport Football ⚽️ (@SSFootball) April 26, 2023
The Norwegian footballer Erling Haaland scored his 49th goal of the season across all competitions to secure the victory for City at the Etihad.
Pep Guardiola’s camp scored 4 goals against 1 to secure 3 points of the EPL. The victory takes up two points behind table-toppers Arsenal, with Guardiola’s men having two games in hand on the Gunners.
De Bruyne says in the second half the two teams, Arsenal and City were 50/50.
“In the second half it was probably about 50/50 and I think we didn’t give much away to them. They’re a class team and hard to play against. We had to be at our best today and we were,” said De Bruyne.
Despite this, De Bruyne believes that seven games left can stillchange the current points of and Premier League table.
City’s football manager Guardiola says his team are in the position he wanted them to be in following the 4-1 win over leaders Arsenal.
“Absolutely my position now. I would love to be two games ahead with six points.
“It depends on us. Until today I prefer the position for Arsenal because if Arsenal beat us it is in their hands. Now it is in our destiny. I have a feeling the next three games will dictate a lot,” said Guardiola.
Kevin De Bruyne
City will face Fulham, Leeds and West Ham at home with a back up of great Etihad supporters.
Arsenal football manager Mikel Arteta believes that City were a better team in the first half.
“They were probably at their best, especially in the first half, and we were nowhere near our level. When that happens, the gap becomes too big and in the first 30 minutes we didn’t do all the basic things that you have to do against an exceptional team, in terms of competing, winning duels and understanding what the game requires,” said Arteta.
Arteta said his side got punished and could have been punished even more.
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