Torres double as Man City thrash Arsenal 5-0

 

Arsenal's difficult start to the season continued as they lost 5-0 at Manchester City on Saturday, with Granit Xhaka's first-half red card only compounding the pressure on under-fire manager Mikel Arteta.

The Gunners, who arrived at the Etihad having lost their previous eight Premier League fixtures against City, made a terrible start after falling behind to Ilkay Gundogan's seventh-minute header.

City doubled their lead just five minutes later through Ferran Torres's close-range finish after yet more woeful Arsenal defending, then Xhaka saw red for a two-footed lunge on Joao Cancelo ten minutes before half-time

Man City players celebrate their second goal scored by Ferran Torres (AP)

Gabriel Jesus added a third two minutes before the interval after fine approach play from Jack Grealish to end the game as a contest, with Torres heading in his second to complete the scoring six minutes from time.

Arsenal - who failed to have a shot on target in the match - drop to the bottom of the table after losing their opening three league fixtures of a season for the first time since 1954, while the champions go top ahead of Saturday afternoon's contests.