Manchester City vs Arsenal: The Citizens take charge of the title race

Manchester City took control of the Premier League title race after an emphatic 4-1 win over league-leaders Arsenal. Needing a victory to keep their own hopes alive, Arsenal saw them disappear completely as Kevin De Bruyne led a dominant display to close the gap to just two points.

Manchester City continued their impressive form on Wednesday night with a dominating win over Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium. The Sky Blues asserted their superiority from the first whistle, putting two goals on the board in each half to vanquish the Gunners

From the opening minutes, Manchester City displayed a clear intent to dominate proceedings and quickly took the lead just seven minutes into the game. Erling Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne combined superbly on a fast break, with the former showcasing excellent composure to hold up the play and provide a pass for De Bruyne who finished superbly into the bottom corner.

Manchester City vs Arsenal: De Bruyne opened the scoring for City

Manchester City’s relentless pressure and creative play left Arsenal struggling to make any headway, with Ederson’s goal barely threatened. Although Erling Haaland had several chances to add to his impressive tally of 32 league goals this season, Arsenal’s goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale made multiple saves to keep the Gunners in the game. Despite City’s dominance, they failed to convert their chances until the final minutes of the first half, when John Stones rose to head home brilliantly from a Kevin De Bruyne free kick. Although initially disallowed for offside, a lengthy VAR check ultimately allowed the goal to stand, giving City a 2-0 lead heading into the break.

Manchester City continued their dominance in the second half, with Erling Haaland again playing a crucial role in setting up Kevin De Bruyne’s close-range finish on 54 minutes, taking City’s lead to 3-0. Arsenal struggled to make any headway against the Citizens’ formidable play, leading to visible frustration from players such as Granit Xhaka.

Manchester City vs Arsenal: Arsenal was frustrated by City’s total dominance

Despite their struggles, Arsenal managed to score a consolation goal in the 86th minute through Rob Holding, who found the back of the net from a Trossard pass following a corner. However, it was Haaland who had the final say, scoring in added time to surpass Mo Salah’s record for most goals in a 38-game Premier League season and secure a comprehensive victory for Manchester City.

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal had a difficult night at the Etihad Stadium, as Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City proved too strong for the Gunners in every aspect of the game. The defeat marked Arsenal’s fourth consecutive match without a win, a disappointing run for a team that was hoping to compete for the Premier League title. Meanwhile, City’s dominant performance adds to their already impressive momentum, as they aim to secure a third consecutive Premier League trophy

Arsenal’s remaining fixtures

May 2: Chelsea (H)
May 7: Newcastle (A)
May 14: Brighton (H)
May 20: Nottingham Forest (A)
May 28: Wolves (H)

Manchester City’s remaining fixtures

April 30: Fulham (A)
May 3: West Ham (H)
May 6: Leeds United (H)
May 14: Everton (A)
May 21: Chelsea (H)
May 24: Brighton (A)
May 28: Brentford (A)

(All images via Getty)

Manchester City vs Arsenal: The Citizens take charge of the title race