Man City vs Arsenal LIVE: Result and reaction from Premier League title decider as City thump Gunners
Manchester City 4-1 Arsenal: Kevin De Bruyne scored twice in a star performance before Erling Haaland sealed the rout in a huge blow to the Gunners’ title hopes
Champions Manchester City produced a stunning performance to seize complete control of the Premier League title race with a devastating 4-1 win over leaders Arsenal.
Kevin De Bruyne struck twice with John Stones and Erling Haaland also on the scoresheet at the Etihad Stadium as City delivered a potentially decisive blow to the Gunners’ hopes of lifting the crown.
Arsenal claimed a late reply through Rob Holding but treble-chasing City had long since asserted their dominance and Haaland wrapped up the contest with his 49th goal of the season in stoppage time.
The result lifted Pep Guardiola’s men to within two points of the Londoners at the top of the table and, with two games in hand, they are now strong favourites to land their fifth title in six years.
Arsenal and their manager Mikel Arteta simply had no answer to the pace, strength and determination of the hosts, who were at their ruthless best and powered to their 12th win in their last 13 games in all competitions.
Follow all the reaction as Man City closed in on the Premier League title
Man City vs Arsenal
Here’s a few highlights of the previous league meeting between Manchester City and Arsenal.
Played at the Emirates Stadium Kevin De Bruyne opened the scoring for the visitors before Bukayo Saka equalised from the penalty spot a few minutes before half-time.
Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland got themselves on the scoresheet inside the final 20 minutes and City went on to claim a 3-1 victory away from home.
City’s unbeaten run
Manchester City have won eight of their last nine league games, including the last six in a row. They are unbeaten in 16 matches in all competitions, winning 13 and drawing three.
Man City vs Arsenal
The last few weeks have all been building to tonight’s clash between the reigning Premier League champions and the current Premier League leaders.
Only one can come out on top and whoever does will be in pole position to go on to win the title. Are you ready?
‘I guess this is a title decider’ says Dias
“I guess it is a title decider, as will the next one against Fulham and the one after that against West Ham and so on,” said Manchester City’s Ruben Dias when previewing tonight’s match against Premier League leaders Arsenal.
“It is just another part of the title race. It is definitely a big one because we are playing against our main opponent, and it is a good time to make a statement.
“But we know that after this game, there is still a long way to go and many games to be played. Our total focus is on tomorrow’s game, but knowing there is still a long way to go.
“We all know how good Arsenal are and what they are capable of. But we also know how difficult it is in this part of the season.”
Haaland, Odegaard and the collision of two stars taking over the show of the Premier League title race
The best place to take the temperature of a nation’s love of football is always on the school playground, and in Norway there has been a sea change.
Partly it is the colours – sky blue is everywhere these days – but more subtly is the fact that, more so than ever before, there are Norwegian names on the back of kids’ shirts.
The country has always loved English football ever since acquiring TV rights in the 1960s, and the Premier League is something of an obsession.
But the fact that two of the leading protagonists in this year’s compelling title race play for the Norway national team has made things personal.
Martin Odegaard is Arsenal’s captain; Erling Haaland is Manchester City’s superstar. And on Wednesday night they collide at the heart of a match at the Etihad Stadium which will likely decide who wins the Premier League.
Haaland, Odegaard and the collision of two stars in the Premier League title race
Haaland and Odegaard grabbed attention as young prodigies in Norway before taking different paths to the top of the game. Now they collide as main characters in a dramatic Premier League story
Manchester City’s hot streak
Since losing to Tottenham at the start of February, Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City have won eight of their last nine league games, including each of the last six to close the gap at the top of the table.
It currently stands at five points in Arsenal’s favour but City have two games in hand and know that if they win all of their remaining league games then the title will be theirs.
Next few games are important for City
Argentina striker, Julian Alvarez, says that the next few games are important for Manchester City and they could decide how successful a season the Premier League champions have this year.
“In recent weeks we have been having a great season,” Alvarez said, “But I think that the last days, the last weeks, are going to be the most important.
“It is when competitions are decided. The team is good. We want to continue like this to reach the end with as many options as we can.”
Man City vs Arsenal
Arsneal have scored just three goals in 10 previous league meetings against Manchester City who, in contrast, have racked up 26 goals against the Gunners.
City have beaten Arsenal twice this season and are seeking a hat-trick of wins against the Gunners in a single campaign for the third time in five years.
‘City must focus on the game’ says Alvarez
Manchester City striker Julian Alvarez says that his teammates will focus on the game at hand when they take on Arsenal this evening and try to ignore the wider context of a Premier League title race.
League leaders Arsenal will step out at the Etihad holding a five-point advantage over Pep Guardiola’s reigning champions but City have two games in hand on the Gunners.
“We have to focus on ourselves even though we know Arsenal are ahead,” Alvarez said, “We still have to face them in the Premier League, and I think they are doing an amazing season.
“They have great players and are performing really good, which is what has made them win many games and be so consistent. But I think our strengths is to be focused on our game. We must keep an eye on them because we are going to face them.
“We are strong when we do what we know, play as we know, whatever the opponent is, to get the win, that´s the most important thing.
“I think that the most important thing is to keep focusing on ourselves and to keep getting three points every single game to be able to fight until the last game.”
The missing piece of Arsenal’s title bid
The cause of the frenzy happened to be Mohamed Elneny’s most noticeable contribution in weeks. The Arsenal midfielder’s Instagram story showed William Saliba back in the gym, peddling on an exercise bike and pointing to his head. Apart from that, the clip revealed nothing that couldn’t otherwise be seen, but it spread on social media regardless, generating an excited reaction from a fan base desperate to claw onto any sort of positive news ahead of next week’s trip to Manchester City. This was one: Saliba was back, and everything was going to be fine.
And then it wasn’t. First Saliba could not be seen in Arsenal’s training photos ahead of facing Southampton on Friday, then Mikel Arteta delivered the news. “He is not progressing as quick as we hoped,” Arteta admitted. Southampton was the focus, but it all but confirmed that Saliba was out of Arsenal’s biggest Premier League game in 19 years. While Arteta did not want to make predictions, there is now doubt over whether he will play again this season as well. “We are finished,” came one reply. “Goodbye title,” came another.
The missing piece of Arsenal’s title bid
William Saliba’s importance has grown with each game he has missed due to injury as Arsenal fans cling to the hope he will play again this season
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