Nathan Ake’s strike saw Manchester City defeat Arsenal 1-0 at Etihad Stadium in Fourth Round of 2022-23 FA Cup.
In a competitive first half, Arsenal’s Leandro Trossard produced the best chances as he drew two saves from Stefan Ortega, in an evenly-poised encounter between the two top teams in this season’s Premier League.
Ake eventually pounced upon a 64th minute backpass from Jack Grealish to calmly fire the winning goal into the right corner, after Grealish had collected Julian Alvarez’s shot which had hit the bar moments earlier.
Speaking post-match to ITV, Ake said that he was happy to score with his right foot for the first time with an assist from Grealish, as he commented: “A pass from Jack. It was the first one I ever scored with my right foot so pleased with that.”
City’s victory ensured that they become the first team to advance to the Fifth Round of this season’s FA Cup, with the draw set to be held on Monday 30 January live on BBC One at 7pm as part of The One Show.
Man City made a lightning start from kick-off as they swiftly pressed Arsenal back into their own defence, which in-turn limited the Gunners’ ability to attack and led Rob Holding to tug Erling Haaland to ground but referee – Paul Tierney ruled it wasn’t a foul despite City’s complaints.
Haaland however would prove influential to the first chance of the match as he teed up Rodri in the third minute with a lay-off pass, yet the Spaniard could only blast it over the bar.
Arsenal’s Trossard meanwhile made his first start since he joined from Brighton and quickly forced two saves from Ortega, as he first pulled back in the fifth minute to Takehiro Tomiyasu who rifled towards the left corner but Ortega flicked the ball behind.
Trossard then drew a crucial left-handed punch from Ortega in the 21st minute after he cut in from the left and unleashed in a powerful shot, which was destined for the right corner until Ortega intervened.
City meanwhile had found themselves frustrated after a positive start but almost claimed a 25th minute lead, as a quick attacking move ultimately saw Riyad Mahrez’s shot blocked and Kevin De Bruyne curled the follow-up shot marginally wide of the left corner.
Trossard meanwhile continued to terrorise Rico Lewis with his high-tempo runs up City’s right flank, which saw the Belgian produce a 33rd minute pullback towards Eddie Nketiah who was only able to slam his shot wide.
Haaland five minutes later beat Gabriel as he latched onto a bizarre backward flicked pass by Kieran Tierney, yet ultimately chipped his shot wide behind an outcoming Matt Turner in Arsenal’s goal.
City however failed to finish the first half with their starting line-up after John Stones suffered a hamstring injury in the 44th minute, as he intercepted Trossard and was substituted with Aymeric Laporte brought on in his place.
Neither team were able to find a breakthrough goal before half-time and the second half began like the first half, with City on the front foot as Turner was forced to block two shots from De Bruyne in the space of three minutes.
Fabio Vieira missed a huge opportunity to put Arsenal ahead just before the hour mark, as a cross bounced off Manuel Akjani’s head, yet Vieira could only volley wide as Ortega came out of his goal to try and make a block.
That wasted opportunity was eventually punished in the 64th minute as substitute, Julian Alvarez saw his shot ricochet off the left post, to Jack Grealish who swivelled around Tomiyasu before he played a backward pass for Ake to calmly roll into the far-right corner.
Arsenal could of equalised just three minutes later as Granit Xhaka swung in a cross from the left flank towards Nketiah to poke in but Laporte made a crucial touch to flick it beyond the youngster’s reach.
Alvarez almost wrapped up victory for the hosts in the 81st minute as he unleashed a 25-yard strike but Turner was alert to make the save, which kept Arsenal’s hopes of at least snatching a draw and replay at Emirates Stadium alive.
Nevertheless, Man City ultimately clung on to snatch victory and a place in the Fifth Round for the eighth consecutive season, having last lost at this stage in January 2015 to Middlesbrough on home turf less than 24 hours after their return from a warm-weather training camp aboard.
What’s Next?
Man City are next in action away to Arsenal’s local rivals, Tottenham in a huge Premier League clash at 4:30pm GMT on Sunday 5 February live on Sky Sports.
Arsenal meanwhile visit Everton at Goodison Park in a 12:30pm GMT kick-off on Saturday 4 February, live on BT Sport.
Teams
Manchester City: Stefan Ortega, Rico Lewis (Walker 58′), John Stones (Laporte 45+4′), Manuel Akanji, Nathan Ake, Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne (Silva 75′), Ilkay Gundogan, Riyad Mahrez (Alvarez 58′), Jack Grealish, Erling Haaland
Substitutes: Ederson, Kyle Walker, Ruben Dias, Kalvin Phillips, Joao Cancelo, Aymeric Laporte, Julian Alvarez, Bernardo Silva, Cole Palmer
Arsenal: Matt Turner, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Rob Holding (Saliba 45′), Gabriel, Kieran Tierney (Zinchenko 66′), Granit Xhaka, Thomas Partey (Sambi Lokonga 45′), Fabio Vieira, Leandro Trossard (Martinelli 66′), Bukayo Saka (Odegaard 75′), Eddie Nketiah
Substitutes: Aaron Ramsdale, Ben White, Oleksandr Zinchenko, William Saliba, Jakub Kiwior, Albert Samba Lokonga, Martin Odegaard, Marquinhos, Gabriel Martinelli
Referee: Paul Tierney
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