Erling Haaland netted the decisive goal to give Manchester City a hard-fought win over Arsenal which kept their Premier League title hopes alive.
The Gunners’ defeat to Bournemouth and City’s rout of Chelsea last weekend had reduced the lead at the top of the standings to six points ahead of Sunday’s blockbuster clash.
But it was the Cityzens who came out victorious to reduce the deficit to three points and now have a chance to go level on points with Arsenal when they play their game in hand against Burnley in midweek.
Haaland netted for Pep Guardiola’s side when these two sides met in a 1-1 draw earlier in the season and he proved to be a thorn in their flesh once again with another inspiring performance.
Manchester City were the brighter side in the opening stages and went ahead in the 16th minute after a moment of magic from Rayan Cherki, who beat a couple of challenges before slotting into the bottom corner past David Raya.
However, Gianluigi Donnarumma handed Arsenal a lifeline when he waited on a clearance, before the ball ricocheted off Kai Havertz into the back of the net.
Haaland then hit the post early in the second half before Donnarumma saved from Havertz this time around, while Eberechi Eze also hit the post.
Manchester City then retook the lead once again as Haaland was on the end of a ball inside the area and held off Gabriel Magalhaes to slot into the back of the net.
Arsenal then hit the post, before Havertz missed a glorious chance to snatch an equalizer in stoppage-time, when he headed over from the goal post.
The lead at the top is now down to three points, but Manchester City can now pull level when they face Burnley in midweek, setting up a tense title finish with only a few games left.
Olakitan is a young writer with a strong passion for sports, having gained experience with IndyPress and Nimelssa Press. His enthusiasm for sports inspired him to cover events both within his school and beyond. With a deep understanding of the game and a refined skillset, he brings sports coverage to a broad, global audience in a way that’s engaging and accessible.
