By Rosemary Ugiomoh
Manchester City grabbed the Premier League title race by the scruff of the neck on Sunday, beating Arsenal 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium. In a game billed as decisive for both sides, it was Pep Guardiola’s men who came out on top.
City struck first in the 18th minute. Jeremy Doku weaved past a pair of Arsenal defenders before slipping the ball beyond David Raya to make it 1-0. Arsenal’s response was instant. Kai Havertz pounced on a loose pass from Ederson, intercepting the goalkeeper’s clearance and slotting home to level the score.
The rest of the first half played out as a back-and-forth battle, with both teams trading attacks but neither landing another blow before the break.
After halftime, City looked sharper and pressed Arsenal high up the pitch. Yet it was the Gunners who carved out the first big chance of the second half, only for Havertz to fire straight at Ederson from close range.
The decisive moment came in the 65th minute. Doku picked out Nico O’Reilly, who fed Erling Haaland inside the box. Haaland made no mistake, burying the winner to send the Etihad into celebration.
The result leaves City just three points behind Arsenal, and with a game in hand. If they win that extra fixture, they’ll draw level with Mikel Arteta’s side, who have sat top for most of the campaign. City would then likely go first on goal difference, as Arsenal’s advantage has been cut to just two goals.
Pressure is mounting on Arteta. Arsenal have finished second for three straight seasons, and another runner-up finish has sparked rumors the board is already lining up replacements for the Spaniard.
