Nathan Ake scores as Manchester City beat Arsenal 1-0 to knock them out of the FA Cup

Dutch defender Nathan Ake scored the only goal of the game as Manchester City edged Arsenal 1-0 in the fourth round of the FA Cup.

It was a match that saw both managers make several changes to their starting XI, with Pep Guardiola benching Ederson, Kyle Walker, Joao Cancelo and Bernardo Silva. Mikel Arteta also left out Aaron Ramsdale, Ben White, William Saliba, Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Martinelli and Oleksandr Zinchenko.

Arteta decided to give new signing Leandro Trossard his first start for the club since joining from Brighton last week. Despite the changes, Arsenal were the dominant force and created the better chances in the first half but could not make them count.

Arsenal had chances while enjoying the better of the first half. Takehiro Tomiyasu and Leandro Trossard forced saves from City goalkeeper Stefan Ortega, and Eddie Nketiah fired narrowly wide from close range.

In the second half, City started growing in the game and finally found the breakthrough in the 64th minute. Substitute Julian Alvarez’s strike from outside the box beat Arsenal goalkeeper Matt Turner but was denied by the post. Jack Grealish picked up the rebound and laid it off to Ake, who hit a first-time curling effort into the corner.

Arsenal are currently leading the Premier League table by five points with Manchester City occupying the second place spot. However, their secen-match unbeaten run was halted by Guardiola’s men, who themselves have won three straight games in a row in all competitions.

Speaking after the match, Arteta said he is really disappointed with the result, adding that they could have got much more from the match.

“(I’m) really disappointed. We could have got much more out of the game. In the big moments in big matches you have to make the difference,” said Arteta.

The two clubs will lock horns again on February 16 but this time in the Premier League.