Football news, Premier League - Aguero hat-trick sends City second

Sergio Aguero hit a hat-trick as Manchester City responded to their mid-week defeat to Newcastle United with a 3-1 win over Arsenal.

The result moves Pep Guardiola’s side back into second place in the Premier League table and within two points of pace-setters Liverpool, who take on West Ham on Monday night. Three points keeps City in the title race.

For the second time in just a few days, the defending champions opened the scoring within the opening minute, with Aguero stooping to send a diving header into the back of the net from an Aymeric Laporte cross after just 46 seconds.

But just like against Newcastle during the week, City allowed the opposition back into the game as Laurent Koscielny netted a header of his own completely against the run of play. That goal seemed to knock City from their stride.

However, they regained the lead just before the break when Aguero finished from close range following a Bernardo cross across the face of goal. And the Argentine completed a hat-trick of taps ins with another similar goal just after the hour-mark, converting from Raheem Sterling’s cross, with the ball looking like it came off his hand.

Man City have the deepest squad in the Premier League. Even with De Bruyne injured, Guardiola had stars like Bernardo and Phil Foden to step into the shoes of the Belgian. But City are a noticeably better team with De Bruyne in the side and that showed as the 27-year-old made his first home start of the Premier League season so far. The return of their playmaker could drag City back into title contention.

Season after season, this guy delivers. Is there a better big game player in the Premier League? All three of Aguero’s goals came from close-range finishes, but the Argentine is exceptional at anticipating the runs and movement of his team-mates. De Bruyne was also a standout for Man City, but Aguero was quite literally the match-winner for the defending champions.

Manchester City: Ederson 5, Walker 6, Laporte 7, Otamendi 6, Gundogan 7, Fernandinho 6, Bernardo 6, Silva 7, De Bruyne 8, Sterling 7, Aguero 9. Subs: Mahrez 5, Jesus 4.

Arsenal: Leno 5, Lichtsteiner 4, Koscielny 6, Mustafi 4, Kolasinac 5, Monreal 6, Guendouzi 7, Torreira 6, Iwobi 5, Lacazette 5, Aubameyang 6. Subs: Ramsey 5, Denis 5, Mavropanos 5.

1’ GOAL! Man City 1-0 Arsenal: What a start! Just like they did at Newcastle during the week, Man City have scored in the opening minute! And it's Aguero again! Laporte gets forward and crosses for Aguero, who stoops to send a diving header into the back of the net.

10’ GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO... NO! Man City think they have scored a second, with De Bruyne's free-kick to the back post headed home by Laporte. But the flag was up.

11’ GOAL! Man City 1-1 Arsenal: Completely against the run of play, Arsenal have restored parity! Monreal got to the front post and flicked on a corner kick delivery, with Koscielny throwing himself at the ball to power a diving header into the City net!

44’ GOAL! Man City 2-1 Arsenal: Brilliant, brilliant goal by Man City. Sterling plays a one-two with Bernardo and plays a first time cross to the back post, where Aguero is waiting completely unmarked to finish into the back of the empty net! City have the lead again.

61’ GOAL! Man City 3-1 Arsenal: City have a third and it's a hat-trick for Aguero! But was that a handball? Sterling dribbled into the box and fizzed a cross across the face of goal. Aguero bundled it home on the slide, but replays show it might have come off his hand!

Sergio Aguero has scored both of the two quickest goals in the Premier League this season (24 seconds against Newcastle, 46 seconds against Arsenal).

Pep Guardiola has still never lost a competitive game against Unai Emery as a manager (12 games).

This was Kevin De Bruyne’s first home start of the Premier League season so far.