The margins were always likely to be tight. In the event, with so much on the line, namely the possible destination of the Premier League title, they were excruciatingly so. It was a day when the division’s heavyweights went toe-to-toe and served up a thriller, a contest to absorb the nation and many more around the world.
When it was over, it was Manchester City who had landed what could prove to be the telling blow. Because once they are ahead on the count in these situations everybody knows how it tends to end. There is no better finisher than Pep Guardiola and the momentum is now firmly with him. A seventh championship in 10 seasons is within his grasp.
The game turned around the hour mark. Mikel Arteta had promised that his Arsenal team would come to play, to fight for the win. No half measures, no parking the bus. They played. It could have turned out differently if Eberechi Eze’s fizzing shot from the edge of the box had been better placed by six inches. Instead it struck the inside of the post, rolled in front of the line and was cleared.
Minutes later, City went up to the other end to score the decisive goal. It was a flowing move, started by Gianluigi Donnarumma and saw Nico O’Reilly swap passes with Jérémy Doku before crossing for Rodri. Arsenal’s defenders were drawn towards the City midfielder and nobody was tight enough to Erling Haaland. Which was a big problem. Haaland swept home and City were on their way to cutting Arsenal’s lead at the top of the table to three points. City have a game in hand. They play at Burnley on Wednesday night.
