Three first-half goals saw Premier League leaders Manchester City complete their second 3-0 victory over Arsenal in the space of five days at the Emirates Stadium on Thursday night.

Manchester City took the lead in the 15th minute after a devastating run from Leroy Sane saw the ball land at the feet of Bernardo Silva, who curled in a fine effort.

Arsenal looked most likely to score from the counterattack, and they almost did in the 18th minute when a swift move saw the ball fall to Danny Wellbeck, but he was halted by Nicolas Otamendi.

The home side came agonisingly close to levelling matters in the 22nd minute when Hector Bellerin’s cutback was met with a strike by Aaron Ramsey, but Ederson proved equal to the task.

City doubled the lead in fine style when a fine passing between Sane, Sergio Aguero and David Silva resulted in the Spanish playmaker netting in the 28th minute.

The soon-to-be Premier League champions made it 3-0 just after the half-hour mark when another swift passing move resulted in Kyle Walker supplying Sane with a tap-in.

It could have been 4-0 in the 39th minute, but Petr Cech did well to save Aguero’s effort with his legs.

The home side should have made it 3-1 with minutes to go to the break, but nobody was able to pull the trigger following a nice passing move.

Arsenal were awarded a penalty in the 52nd minute when Otamendi was adjudged to have brought down Henrikh Mkhitaryan; however, Ederson kept out Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s penalty.

Aubameyang had another chance minutes later but sent his volley wide of the post.

Pep Guardiola gave Yaya Toure and Gabriel Jesus late cameo appearances as his side again ran out 3-0 victors against Arsenal, for the second time in five days.

-This story originally appeared on FourFourTwo.co.za

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