Manchester City v Arsenal ratings: Ake 8, Haaland 6; Trossard 7, Tierney 6

Guardiola's team enter FA Cup fifth round after hard-fought 1-0 win

MANCHESTER CITY RATINGS: Stefan Ortega - 6. Two big saves in the first half were Ortega’s contribution to the game. They weren’t the most difficult of stops, but still kept his side in the game. Had very little to do in the second half. AP

Rico Lewis - 6. The teenager was once again unfazed by the stage and showed why Pep Guardiola has so much faith in him. His positional changes did put City’s backline under pressure but never enough to see the side punished. Was replaced by Kyle Walker just before the hour. Getty

Manuel Akanji - 7. An assured performance from the Swiss international who kept Eddie Nkeitah quiet and failed to give the Arsenal attack many opportunities. He also showed his positional awareness in the first half when City’s defence was stretched by Lewis’ roams into midfield. Getty

John Stones - 5. Spent most of the first half being dragged to the right to cover for Rico Lewis. Was challenged by Trossard on a number of occasions in the first period, before suffering a hamstring injury on the stroke of half time. EPA

Nathan Ake - 8. Kept Bukayo Saka quiet for most of the evening at left-back. Was then on hand to open the scoring with a smart side-foot finish for his second goal for the club, which turned out to be the winner. Reuters

Ilkay Gundogan - 6. Both team’s midfields seemed to be below their best for the majority of this game and it meant there were very few real moments of intent from the German. Bar a couple of driving runs into the box in the first half, it was difficult for Gundogan to impose himself. AP

Rodri – 6. The type of performance where the Spaniard does the simple things that often go unnoticed. He Kept City’s midfield in check, especially after taking the lead, and although it wasn’t his most polished display was enough to put a stamp on the game. PA

Riyad Mahrez - 5. Struggled to get into the game on the right flank. The Algerian was restricted to a few slow runs and was unable to get in behind Arsenal or really threaten the back four. It was no surprise to see him replaced on the hour mark. AP

Kevin De Bruyne - 5. A rare off night for the Belgian. Arsenal managed to shackle De Bruyne for the vast majority of the game and stopped his supply line to Erling Haaland. The only highlight came from a first half curler that whizzed past Matt Turner’s goal. EPA

Jack Grealish - 6. A performance in flashes for Jack. Didn’t see as much of the ball as he would like. When he did eventually find space in the box, he set-up the winner for Nathan Ake. Reuters

Erling Haaland - 6. Spent the first half in a wrestling match with Rob Holding, which on balance he was on the wrong end of. Once Holding was removed, the Norwegian suffered from a lack of service and was well-marshalled by William Saliba. Getty

SUBS: Aymeric Laporte (Stones 45+1) - 6. Came on for the injured John Stones just before the break and slotted in the back four with ease and saw Arsenal fail to carve out a real chance in the second period. EPA

Kyle Walker (Lewis 57') - 5. Slotted into Rico Lewis’ spot and used all his experience to help City see out the game and keep the Gunners' attack at bay. Reuters

Julian Alvarez (Mahrez 57') - 5. Gave a bit more threat to City’s attack when he came on and it was his shot that hit the post in the lead-up to City’s opener. Reuters

Bernardo Silva (De Bruyne 74') - N/A. A typically consistent performance from the Portuguese. Reuters

ARSENAL RATINGS: Matt Turner - 6. Started the game with a few nervy kicks but didn’t put a foot wrong after that. Impressed with his positional play when forced into what could have been one-on-ones with Haaland. A good runout for the American stopper. AFP

Takehiro Tomiyasu - 6. Almost put Arsenal into the lead with a stinging shot that made Ortega work in the first half and did well on the whole against Grealish. Will be a tad disappointed though that the assist for Ake’s goal came from City’s number 10. AP

Rob Holding - 6. The highlight of the first half was Holdings’ battle with Haaland. After a nervy start, the centre-back managed to get the better of City’s star striker and stopped him from adding to his goal glut. He did however get a booking, which saw him withdrawn at half time. Getty

Gabriel - 6. A big reason why Haaland failed to get on the scoresheet, as he was on hand to mop up any danger that first Holding and then Saliba failed to deal with. Another good evening's work from the Arsenal centre-back. PA

Kieran Tierney - 6. Enjoyed the space on the left flank in the first half and was a big reason why City saw very little from Mahrez in the game. Failed to make the same impact as Oleksandr Zinchenko has had in that position. Reuters

Fabio Vieira - 5. Given the chance to step into Martin Odegaard’s boots, but had very little impact on the game. A few nice touches in the first half, but had nothing to show for his second half showing. Getty

Thomas Partey - 6. Continued where he’s left off in the league by protecting Arsenal’s back four. The midfield cancelled each other out for the majority of the game and Partey was replaced at half time having done his job for the first 45. Getty

Granit Xhaka - 5. Xhaka couldn’t oppose himself in the same way we’ve seen from the Swiss star this season and had only a booking to show for his night's work. AFP

Bukayo Saka - 4. Not a night to remember for Saka. Didn’t get a sniff out of Ake and was a rare anonymous display from the England star. Struggled to get into the game and offered very little in the way of an attacking threat. EPA

Leandro Trossard - 7. Arsenal’s best player on the night – especially in the first half. Set up chances for Nketiah and Tomiyasu and had an effort of his own saved by Ortega in a busy first period. The Belgian already looks like a clever addition for the Gunners. Getty

Eddie Nketiah - 6. Couldn’t bring his recent good form into this FA Cup clash and was second-best to Akanji for most of the night. His biggest chance came in the first half, where a clever run saw him meet Trossard’s cross, only to see the ball go the wrong side of the post. AP

SUBS: William Saliba (Holding 45') - 6. Came on at half time and took over from Holding in keeping Haaland quiet, something he managed to do successfully. AFP

Sambi Lokonga (Partey 45') - 5. A difficult game for the 23-year-old to come into, especially replacing the impressive Partey. Did nothing wrong, but also didn’t do much to give Mikel Arteta a selection headache. Reuters

Gabriel Martinelli (Trossard 66') - 5. Failed to have the same impact as Trossard and although he was busy, never enough to worry Man City. EPA

Oleksandr Zinchenko (Tierney 66') - 5. Got a hero's welcome from the Etihad and offered more dynamism on the left flank when he came on. EPA

Martin Odegaard (Saka 74') - N/A. This season’s standout player instantly gave Arsenal’s attack more threat, but it wasn’t enough to find an equaliser. AFP

Manchester City edged past Arsenal as Nathan Ake's goal earned Pep Guardiola's team a place in the fifth round of the FA Cup on Friday.

The top two teams in the Premier League traded blows in the first half, with Erling Haaland twice going close for City while Arsenal forced goalkeeper Stefan Ortega into two fine saves.

Guardiola brought Julian Alvarez off the bench early in the second half, with the Argentina striker firing against the post before Ake slotted home from the follow up in the 64th minute.

The sides will meet twice more in the next three months in the Premier League with the title on the line.

Arsenal hold a five-point lead over the defending champions at the top of the table, but fell to their first defeat since November at the Etihad.

Mikel Arteta said Arsenal need to learn to be ruthless.

"Really disappointed. I think we could have got much more out of the game," said Arteta.

"We had big situations in the game and we didn't put them away. In the big moments, in big matches you have the make the difference. That is how you win these games."

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