Agüero's Hatter Helps City Beat Arsenal, Keep Pressure on the 'Pool

If anyone thinks Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola and his crew are being distracted from the Premiership race by other cup competitions -- and it's out there -- it's not showing at the moment.

Especially with Sergio Agüero notching a treble to top Arsenal, 3-1.

With Liverpool visiting mid-table West Ham United tomorrow, the Citizens have thrown down the gauntlet for them to match the point haul or fall back.

In other words, as they say on the London Underground, mind the gap. Otherwise, they'll be in the same fix Tottenham's Mauricio Pochettino is without Harry Kane ...

 

Of the 'Ship's Big Six, only Manchester United comes close to Arsenal in terms of porous defenses. The Gunners have allowed 36 goals in 25 games, one more than the Red Devils.

Contrast that with City's now 66 markers to date, and it was on the cards that it wouldn't take long to see them on the board.

Turns out it took only 46 seconds to do so. Aymeric Laporte robbed Alex Iwobi on the edge of the area and crossed it to Agüero, who took care of business:

 

Ten minutes later, Arsenal responded through Laurent Koscielny.

Lucas Torreira's corner was flicked on by Nacho Monreal, and the ball ended with the Gunners' captain, who nodded home:

 

Arsenal grew into the game, and we could've seen a different first half, but ...

 

On the verge of the half, Raheem Sterling received a pinpoint İlkay Gündoğan pass and one-timed a crossed it to Agüero, who again had a simple touch to finish:

 

After the break, City was even more confident and ultimately put the game away.

It happened in the 66th, when none other than Agüero completed his hat trick. Sterling crossed from the left and found the Argentine, who knocked it home yet again from close distance:

 

Ball's in your court, Liverpool.

And Agüero can relax for a minute after a job well done.