Arsenal 1 – 3 Man City

Manchester City clinched the Premier League title with a brutal 3-1 win over Arsenal to send the defending champions clear of the Gunners at the top of the table.

In a thrilling encounter at the Emirates Stadium that fit the bill, City’s title-winning pedigree was finally told as goals from Jack Grealish (72) and Erling Haaland (82) secured a potential victory for Pep Guardiola’s side.

Earlier, Bukayo Saka’s (42) penalty, after Ederson was adjudged to have fouled Eddie Nketiah, canceled out Kevin De Bruyne’s (24) opener, who set up a fine first-time finish for Aaron Ramsdale after Takehiro Tomiyasu’s poor backpass. .

Arsenal, without Thomas Partey due to a muscle injury, deserved a leveler from a positive start, but recent slip-ups against Everton and Brentford have opened the door to City and Mikel Arteta’s side could not resist the visitors’ second-half pressure.

The defeat extended Arsenal’s winless run to three games and put momentum behind a City side that looked galvanized by the Premier League’s charge, leaving them top on goal difference, despite having played more games than their title rivals.

How City claimed the win is important

Arsenal went into the game with a sense of injustice after a VAR error allowed Ivan Toney’s equalizer to stand in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Brentford and it was palpable at the ground, with the home fans sweating it out.

Arsenal started strongly, despite the absence of Partey, replaced by debutant Jorginho, and after saving a nervous moment when Haaland opted to cross instead of taking Riyad Mahrez’s cross, the hosts created the first chance of the game, Nketiah was wasted. the angle of the diagonal cross Oleksandr Zinchenko.

City let loose and within two minutes they capitalized ruthlessly. Tomiyasu, picked ahead of Ben White on the right, left a short backpass for Ramsdale and De Bruyne slipped in, lifting the finish above the stranded keeper beautifully.

Tomiyasu had a chance to make amends a few minutes later at the other end, when a deflected cross fell into space in the City box, but the first shot flew over the bar.

City tried to disrupt Arsenal’s rhythm late on through goal kicks and throw-ins, but the hosts’ response to pull back was excellent, Saka denying a good chance from Martin Odegaard’s slider pass when his shot was delayed, allowing Nathan Ake to block.

But Arsenal, and Saka, who gave temporary left-back Bernardo Silva hot time on the home side’s right, did not have to bide their time.

It looked to have been ruled out when Ake cleared Nketiah’s diagonal effort off the line, but referee Anthony Taylor pointed to the spot, adjudging Ederson to have fouled Nketiah when he struck the ball.

After the delay, Saka showed excellent composure to step forward and beat Ederson, who, mercifully for City, avoided a second yellow card having been booked for time wasting earlier.

Outbursts of celebration followed the goal, but the contest continued to move quickly with City inches away from scoring a second shortly before half-time.

The chance came from a free-kick, shortly after Ramsdale denied Ilkay Gundogan, who was then flagged for offside, as Rodri’s header deflected off Ake and hit the top of the bar.

It was perhaps a sign of things to come as City began to dominate proceedings after the break. There was a let-off for Arsenal when the penalty, won by Haaland when he tangled with Gabriel Magalhaes, was disallowed for offside by VAR.

But City continued to push the hosts away and, after a number of narrow escapes, including a fine save from Ramsdale after Haaland got in behind, Guardiola’s side struck for a second.

It was the result of another Arsenal error when Gabriel gave up possession in his own half, but what followed was excellent clinical play from City as he quickly played the ball to Grealish, whose low finish deflected Tomiyasu into the net.

The match was then sealed by Haaland, who has recovered since suffering an injury scare in City’s 3-1 win over Villa. The Norwegian striker controlled De Bruyne’s back-kick well before firing a volley past Ramsdale and into the far corner for his 26th Premier League goal of the campaign.

Arsenal continued to struggle, Nketiah making another effort, but by then his fate was sealed, City’s experience and clinical edge proving the difference in a thrilling contest that could change the course of the Premier League title race.

Arsenal’s losing streak continues – Opta stats

• Arsenal have lost their last 11 Premier League games against Manchester City, the longest losing streak against the opposition in the league’s history.
• Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has won eight of his nine matches against Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal in all competitions (L1), including all four meetings at the Emirates Stadium.
• Erling Haaland has scored 26 goals in the Premier League this season, which is the joint-most by a Manchester City player in a single campaign in the competition, alongside Sergio Agüero in 2014/15.
• Kevin De Bruyne has assisted Erling Haaland six times in the Premier League this season for Manchester City, more than any other player has assisted any team in the division.
• Kevin De Bruyne has scored six goals in the league against Arsenal, the most against any opponent in his career. The Belgian has scored 26 goals from outside the box in the Premier League since joining Manchester City in 2015-16, the most of any player.
• Bukayo Saka has scored all four penalties he has taken for Arsenal, against Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City.

What’s next?

Arsenal back in the Premier League in early kick-off on Saturday when they travel to Villa Park to face off Villa Aston Kab.

Manchester City have another away trip there when they go to the City Ground to face Nottingham Forestwith kick-off at 3pm.