Declan Rice confirmed Arsenal were fired up to get one over on Manchester City after dismantling the Premier League champions 5-1 at the Emirates Stadium.
Martin Odegaard gave Arsenal a second-minute lead after John Stones played Manuel Akanji into trouble. Another error, this time from City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega presented Kai Havertz with a glorious chance that he spurned.
Pep Guardiola’s visitors played their way calmly back into the contest either side of the Havertz miss and Erling Haaland scored a well-worked equaliser in the 55th minute.
Thomas Partey’s deflected strike instantly restored Arsenal’s advantage and teenagers Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri scored either side of Havertz atoning for his earlier miss.
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Rice, who claimed assists for Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri, was named man of the match and said Mikel Arteta’s side took inspiration from the tempestuous 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium earlier this season, along with City’s two title successes at Arsenal’s expense over the past two seasons.
“To win 5-1 is an unbelievable scoreline – we had fire in our bellies from what happened at the Etihad at the start of the season, we really wanted to amend that,” said the England midfielder.
“I think we did. It was an even game up until the third goal. They posed a threat, had a lot of the ball. We had to sit deep. Even though we won 5-1, Man City are a top team.
“It’s been building up over a certain amount of time. They nicked the title off Arsenal when I wasn’t here and then they beat us to the title.
It’s been hard to accept that and then everything that went on at the Etihad, you do get that fire in your stadium. The boys are buzzing. We are still off the top and that’s where we want to be.”
Liverpool remain six points clear with a game in hand, still a notable deficit for Arsenal to overturn if they wish to avoid finishing as runners-up for a third consecutive season.
