Manchester City secured the first win of the Premier League-s restart with a 3-0 victory over 10-man Arsenal at an empty Etihad on Wednesday as the English top flight-s return was marked by protests against racial injustice. Both sets of players came together before kick-off to take a knee, as had Aston Villa and Sheffield United players in the first match after a 100-day stoppage due to coronavirus. "I-m embarrassed and ashamed of what the white people have done for the black people," said City manager Pep Guardiola. "We have to do a lot of things for the black people which we have not done so far." City-s victory closes the gap on Liverpool at the top to 22 points and means the Reds cannot secure the title when they face Everton in the Merseyside derby on Sunday.

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A minute-s silence before kick-off remembered those to have lost their lives to COVID-19, including Guardiola-s mother. Black Lives Matter was also emblazoned on the back of shirts where the stars names are normally printed, as the players took a knee around the centre circle. There was little return to normality once the game did kick-off to the hollow ring of an empty stadium as a torrential downpour added to the difficult conditions for the players. "We expected it to be weird," said City-s Raheem Sterling. "The first 10 minutes it was getting used to the atmosphere and getting the cobwebs off."