Holders Manchester City piled on the misery for Arsenal with a ruthless performance at Emirates Stadium to reach the Carabao Cup semi-finals.

The Gunners were desperate for the first 25 minutes, French defender Aymeric Laporte heading a great chance wide before the hosts levelled with their first serious attempt.

Nineteen-year-old Brazilian forward Gabriel Martinelli provided an excellent cross for Alexandre Lacazette to head home but City scored twice in five second-half minutes to seal victory.

Keeper Runar Alex Runarsson allowed Riyad Mahrez’s free-kick to squirm through his gloves and into the net before Phil Foden added the third with a dink over Arsenal’s Iceland stopper.

Foden looked offside after Fernandinho’s pass but with no video assistant referee system in operation, the goal was allowed to stand.

There was nothing controversial about City’s fourth goal, Laporte meeting Foden’s lovely curling cross to head home unmarked.

More misery for Gunners

With no wins in seven in the Premier League, Arsenal’s problems continue to mount after being turfed out of the EFL Cup following a catalogue of errors against a City side which had been misfiring in recent weeks.

They showed some character after falling behind in the third minute but were architects of their own downfall as City took complete control in the second half.

Arteta was seeking a big performance after a wretched run of form left them languishing 15th in the table, just four points above the relegation zone.

Instead poor marking was to blame for the first and fourth goals, while a glaring goalkeeping error gifted City their second.

If there was any positive for Arteta, who now trails Pep Guardiola 3-1 in the battle between the City boss and his former assistant, it came in the shape of Martinelli.

Having recently returned from a serious injury, the teenager looked sharp and hungry, while his assist was one of the best moments of the game for the hosts.

However Martinelli, who had earlier been caught by keeper Zack Steffen, was forced off early in the second half after picking up another knock.

Guardiola closing in on another trophy

City, seeking a fourth successive EFL Cup triumph, join Championship Brentford in the semi-final draw which will be made following Everton’s tie with Manchester United on Wednesday.

They have been far from their best in the Premier League but moved to within two wins of a ninth trophy since Guardiola took charge in 2016 after exposing Arsenal’s frailties.

The City boss named a much-changed line-up yet they were still too much for their opponents and in the end coasted to victory, so much so that the services of Raheem Sterling, who was on the bench, were not required.

Jesus looks to have his swagger back.

He proved a handful while both Mohamed Elneny and Shkodran Mustafi were booked for fouls on City’s number nine.

With Foden scoring and providing an assist, it was a near perfect night for City, who had been fortunate to finish the first half with 11 players on the pitch after Fernandinho’s hand made contact with Dani Ceballos’ face.

With no VAR, City escaped and can now look forward to a one-leg semi-final in two weeks’ time.

Dominating the competition – the best of the stats

• Since losing to Manchester United in October 2016, Manchester City have progressed from each of their last 18 League Cup ties, winning the competition in each of the last three campaigns.
• Arsenal (14) have been eliminated from the quarter-final stage of this competition more times than any other side.
• The Gunners conceded at least four times at home in a League Cup encounter for the first time since November 1998.
• City are the first team to win four consecutive away games against Arsenal in all competitions since Chelsea between 1960 and 1965 (six in a row).
• Riyad Mahrez has scored his fifth direct free-kick in all competitions in English football and first since netting vs Everton in the Premier League in September 2019.
• Phil Foden has had a hand in nine goals in his last 12 League Cup appearances (four goals, five assists).

What’s next?

Arsenal return to Premier League action when they host Chelsea in a big London derby on Saturday (17:30 GMT), while City host Newcastle on the same day at 20:00.

Player of the match

MahrezRiyad Mahrez

with an average of 7.22

Arsenal

1. Squad number35Player nameGabriel Martinelli

   Average rating

   5.48

2. Squad number9Player nameLacazette

   Average rating

   4.26

3. Squad number32Player nameSmith Rowe

   Average rating

   4.13

4. Squad number38Player nameBalogun

   Average rating

   4.01

5. Squad number15Player nameMaitland-Niles

   Average rating

   3.75

6. Squad number6Player nameGabriel Magalhães

   Average rating

   3.74

7. Squad number28Player nameWillock

   Average rating

   3.67

8. Squad number8Player nameDani Ceballos

   Average rating

   3.46

9. Squad number19Player namePépé

   Average rating

   3.35

10. Squad number17Player nameCédric Soares

    Average rating

    3.23

11. Squad number31Player nameKolasinac

    Average rating

    3.16

12. Squad number25Player nameMohamed Elneny

    Average rating

    3.13

13. Squad number13Player nameRúnarsson

    Average rating

    3.06

14. Squad number20Player nameMustafi

    Average rating

    2.97

Manchester City

1. Squad number26Player nameMahrez

   Average rating

   7.22

2. Squad number9Player nameGabriel Jesus

   Average rating

   7.06

3. Squad number14Player nameLaporte

   Average rating

   6.96

4. Squad number25Player nameFernandinho

   Average rating

   6.90

5. Squad number3Player nameRúben Dias

   Average rating

   6.74

6. Squad number47Player nameFoden

   Average rating

   6.72

7. Squad number27Player nameJoão Cancelo

   Average rating

   6.64

8. Squad number11Player nameZinchenko

   Average rating

   6.62

9. Squad number16Player nameRodri

   Average rating

   6.58

10. Squad number10Player nameAgüero

    Average rating

    6.52

11. Squad number21Player nameTorres

    Average rating

    6.39

12. Squad number20Player nameBernardo Silva

    Average rating

    6.38

13. Squad number13Player nameSteffen

    Average rating

    6.31

14. Squad number2Player nameWalker

    Average rating

    6.15

Sourced From BBC