Manchester City striker Erling Haaland picked the perfect time to end his lean spell in the Premier League with the winning goal in a 2-1 victory over leaders Arsenal to give his side the edge in the title race on Sunday.
The Norwegian had not scored in the league since February but his emphatic finish after 65 minutes of a compelling Etihad Stadium showdown proved decisive as City moved three points behind Arsenal with a game in hand.
Victory over relegation-bound Burnley on Wednesday would
move City top of the table with five games to play.
Arsenal, who have been favourites to win their first title
since 2004 having led the race since October, have 70 points
from 33 games with City on 67 from 32.
City began the game with momentum after Arsenal’s surprise
home defeat by Bournemouth last week had opened the door and
they got the perfect start with Rayan Cherki’s brilliant solo
goal giving them the lead in the 16th minute.
But Arsenal’s Kai Havertz was gifted an equaliser less than
two minutes laterafter a mistake by City keeper Gianluigi
Donnarumma.
City survived some scares after the break but as they pushed
forward Haaland struck the decisive blow with his 23rd league
goal of the season deciding what could be a pivotal duel.
Arsenal had lost their last three domestic games in all
competitions while City have been resurgent since beating Mikel
Arteta’s side in the League Cup final.
City almost took the lead when Cherki’s shot glanced off
Gabriel’s shoulder and hit the post.
Arsenal appeared to have recovered from their edgy start but
fell behind after a moment of brilliance from Cherki, the
Frenchman gliding into the area with deft footwork before
threading a right-footed finish past David Raya.
Arsenal were rocked but were level inside two minutes as
Donnarumma endured a nightmare moment. Hesitating over a
clearance from a throw-in, he was closed down by Havertz, the
ball ricocheting off the German and into the net.
The equaliser took the sting out of City, though they
recovered their passing rhythm as halftime approached and it
took sharp awareness from Arsenal defender Piero Hincapie to
block a goal-bound Antoine Semenyo effort.
City turned the screws after the break, dominating
possession as Arsenal retreated. Semenyo’s touch let him down
when played through and Jeremy Doku fared little better,
shooting straight at Raya.
Arsenal sprang back into life, however, and Donnarumma
redeemed himself with a save from Havertz before the Italian was
rescued by his post as Eze let fly from distance.
Just as the Arsenal fans began to find their voices, they
were silenced in the 64th minute. Nico O’Reilly played the ball
across the area and Haaland swept his shot past Raya.
City then lived dangerously as a free kick into their box
deflected off O’Reilly and on to the post.
Tempers frayed as the clock ticked down with the game-long
battle between Gabriel and Haaland reaching boiling point when
both were shown yellow cards for butting heads.
Arsenal pumped balls into City’s box in stoppage time but
Havertz wasted a golden chance to equalise as his free header
rippled the top of the net.
Source: Khaleej Times