John Stones inquest in Arsenal collapse cannot stop Man City humbling

By the end, Arsenal could not believe how easy it had been.

The team that have caused them so much misery of the last two-and-a-half seasons, denying them trophy after trophy, like lambs to the slaughter for at least 45 minutes of what should have been a heavyweight Premier League clash. Their players rubbed it in, their fans rubbed it in, and Pep Guardiola rubbed his head as he contemplates the latest reality check for a team intent on shooting itself in the foot.

City may well end up with more trophies than Arsenal this season, but that should not pull the wool over any Blues at just how painful this season has become. Each of the five goals scored by the Gunners made the soon-to-be-ex champions look that little bit more ordinary in a contest that turned into a rout.

For the last two seasons, matches against Arsenal have been the biggest for City because of the feeling that they have been the most critical in terms of winning the Premier League. Those two clashes in the Treble season, the 0-0 at the Etihad last April and even the 2-2 in September felt like the highest of stakes.

In that time, a rivalry has developed on the pitch that has not always been pleasant. However, if Arsenal were still bearing grudges from the first meeting of the season - Erling Haaland, referees, and the rest - that was not really reciprocated by the Blues; the clubs still do not like each other and the players wanted to win, but if a title is not on the line there is that little bit less on the line.

And not to say that City should have been obsessed with the Stay Humble taunt for the last five months because that is unhealthy in itself, but it does feel like the serial champions are just not quite on it. That, despite their bad injury