Perfect 24 hours: City capitalise on Arsenal slip to go three clear after 5–3 thriller

Manchester City head into the international break in pole position after a perfect weekend: Arsenal were thumped 3–0 by Brighton on Saturday, and City responded by beating Sunderland 5–3 in an eight‑goal Etihad thriller to move three points clear at the top of the Premier League.

Match summary: lead, concede, repeat

City went ahead in the ninth minute when Enzo Fernandez curled in a superb free‑kick—his first goal since his £125m move from Chelsea—but Brian Brobbey equalised almost immediately. Rayan Cherki restored the lead in the 29th after Antoine Semenyo’s assist, only for Brobbey to level again at 2–2.

Semenyo then struck twice—just before half‑time and early in the second half—to put City 4–2 up, before Brobbey completed his hat‑trick in the 59th. Erling Haaland’s 81st‑minute finish from Josko Gvardiol’s cross, confirmed after a VAR check, finally settled it 5–3.

Maresca: “I prefer to win 1–0 than 5–3”

Enzo Maresca praised his side’s resilience but highlighted defensive lapses. “To be honest, I prefer to win 1–0 than 5–3 but I expected a very difficult game… I know it was a difficult game but [I’m] happy because we found a way to win,” he said. “For sure, two of the three goals we conceded were too easy… We can control better, keeping the ball, no doubt.”

City become only the sixth Premier League side whose manager has won his first five league games in charge, joining Carlo Ancelotti, Craig Shakespeare, Maurizio Sarri, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer—and Maresca’s predecessor Pep Guardiola in 2016.

Standouts: Semenyo, Cherki, Fernandez, Haaland

Semenyo ended the match with two goals and an assist, while Cherki impressed with a goal and involvement across the front line. Fernandez’s opener was a statement moment, and Haaland’s late strike meant he has now scored against all 25 Premier League clubs he has faced.

Do City need more control?

Despite the win, City shipped three goals and were punished from set‑pieces, with Sunderland recording an Etihad‑record xG for a visiting side in a Premier League game (4.25). Former Liverpool midfielder Charlie Adam called it a “brilliant start” but warned: “They can’t go through a season playing like that… they need to be able to control spaces at times, instead of getting dragged everywhere man against man.”

Title picture and next test

Arsenal’s heaviest defeat as reigning champions since 1989 leaves them second on 12 points, while City sit top on 15. City’s next challenge after the break is a trip to unbeaten Liverpool on Sunday, 11 October.