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Sergio Aguero scored his 14th Manchester City hat-trick as the champions beat Arsenal 3-1 to cut Liverpool\u2019s Premier League lead to two points.<\/p>\nSergio Aguero scored his 14th Manchester City hat-trick as the champions beat Arsenal 3-1 to cut Liverpool\u2019s Premier League lead to two points.<\/p>\n
Aguero, who opened the scoring after just 46 seconds, netted all three from close range as City bounced back from their midweek defeat Newcastle with a convincing display at the Etihad Stadium.<\/p>\n
Arsenal did pose some awkward questions after finding a quick equalizer through Laurent Koscielny, but two more from Aguero either side of the break put the result beyond doubt.<\/p>\n
There was an element of controversy over Aguero\u2019s third after the ball struck his arm as he bundled it in, but it was not deemed deliberate.<\/p>\n
City eased through the final stages to put the onus on Liverpool to respond at West Ham on Monday.<\/p>\n
The Newcastle loss clearly stung City and they got off to a blistering start as Aguero, who struck after 24 seconds at St James\u2019 Park, again scored in the first minute.<\/p>\n
The opportunity came after Aymeric Laporte, who started at left-back while Fernandinho dropped into central defense, robbed Alex Iwobi on the edge of the area.<\/p>\n
Laporte pushed forward and clipped in an inviting cross for Aguero, who got between two defenders to meet the ball with a powerful diving header.<\/p>\n
Arsenal were fortunate to escape further damage in what proved a shoddy opening 10 minutes.<\/p>\n
Shkodran Mustafi appeared to trip Aguero in the area as the Argentinian raced on to a fine ball from Kevin De Bruyne, but referee Martin Atkinson gave nothing. The officials also correctly disallowed a Laporte header for offside and Raheem Sterling brought a good save from Bernd Leno.<\/p>\n
The Gunners may have feared a long afternoon, but they stunned City by hitting back on 11 minutes after winning a corner form their first attack. Lucas Torreira whipped in a low cross, Nacho Monreal flicked on and Koscielny headed home from close range.<\/p>\n
The game could not continue at that frantic pace and settled to a more modest tempo, but with City continuing to dominate possession. Nicolas Otamendi tested Leno at the end of one good move, but Arsenal also posed a threat, with Sead Kolasinac lashing an effort wide and shooting at Ederson. Torreira also had a fierce strike blocked.<\/p>\n
City regained the lead just before the break as their passes once again started to cut through. Ilkay Gundogan floated a delicate ball into the box for Sterling and his low volleyed cross left Aguero with a simple tap-in.<\/p>\n
De Bruyne then shot across goal as City looked to kill off the game and the Belgian was also denied by Leno early in the second half.<\/p>\n
The decisive blow came as Aguero completed his hat-trick just after the hour, although it was hardly the purest of strikes from the Argentinian.<\/p>\n
Once again, however, the striker was simply in the right place when it mattered as Sterling delivered a fine low ball from the left. Leno did get a touch, deflecting the ball onto the arm of the sliding Aguero, but, such was his momentum, it carried over the line.<\/p>\n
Arsenal complained he handled, but the goal was given.<\/p>\n
Thereafter it became a case of damage limitation for Arsenal and Leno made good saves from Aguero and David Silva.<\/p>\n