Man City ease past Arsenal on Premier League restart

Manchester City prolonged Liverpool’s wait to win a first league title in 30 years as they beat 10-man Arsenal 3-0 at an empty Etihad to secure the first win of the Premier League’s restart on Wednesday.

Both sets of players came together before kick-off to take a knee in protest of racial injustice, as had Aston Villa and Sheffield United players in the first match of the Premier League’s ‘Project Restart’ which ended 0-0 after a 100-day stoppage due to coroanvirus.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta’s plan was undone by two injuries inside 20 minutes as Granit Xhaka and Pablo Mari hobbled off with Dani Ceballos and David Luiz coming on.

And the difference in quality between the two sides showed once City found their groove as a nightmare evening for Luiz condemned his side to defeat.

The Brazilian turned Kevin De Bruyne’s cross into the path of Raheem Sterling to fire home the opener in first-half stoppage time and was then sent off for pulling down Riyad Mahrez.

Playmaker De Bruyne converted the resulting penalty before Phil Foden added a third in stoppage time after Sergio Aguero’s shot came back off the woodwork.

City’s victory closes the gap on Liverpool at the top to 22 points and means the Reds cannot secure the title when they face Everton in the Merseyside derby on Sunday.