7 hours ago
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Man City reaction
Erling Haaland
[On his celebrations at the final whistle] I was quite happy, I have to be honest! It was a great moment for me and a great win.
[On his battle with Gabriel] It’s always like this, a lot of fighting. What can I say? [Did you win the physical battle with him for your goal?] Of course, I scored the goal. I won the battle in that decisive moment. It’s for other people to decide if I won the battle overall.
[On the Gabriel headshove] I think if I fell on the floor, which I will not do unless somebody really attacks me, it would maybe have been a red card. It is what it is.
[On Bernardo Silva] When he headed that cross away [from Gyokeres], I told him, ‘You were like effing Cannavaro!’
Every game is a final. The Burnley game is as important as this game. We need to focus, stay humble and concentrate on the next one.
Bernardo Silva
Two weeks ago, this scenario didn’t look very likely. It was a tough game, a good game – we’re happy.
Erling was unbelievable today. Not just his goal: it’s never easy against two centre-backs and he fought like an animal.
I thought we were very good until we made the mistake. In the second half it looked like we were on control of the game but it always felt like they were very dangerous.
In games like this, small details often make a difference. Today things went out way, but overall I think we played a good game and I’m really proud.
I made decision [to leave] a long time ago so it has been emotional all season. I just want to finish on a high. I’m doing my best for this club until the end.
Man City's remaining fixtures
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Burnley (A)
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Everton (A)
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Brentford (H)
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Bournemouth (A)
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Crystal Palace (H)
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Aston Villa (H)
There’s usually a surprise result in a title race, but right now it feels like three away games – Arsenal at West Ham, City at Everton and Bournemouth – will be decisive.
Arsenal's remaining fixtures
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Newcastle (H)
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Fulham (H)
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West Ham (A)
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Burnley (H)
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Crystal Palace (A)
Manchester City will go top of the table if they win at Burnley on Wednesday. So far this season, they’ve been top for precisely six days.
At this stage it’s hard to know whether Arsenal will be encouraged by their performance or shattered by all those near misses in the second half.
While we consider that question, Erling Haaland has let his hair down, taken his top off and is walking round the field with the flip-eating grin of a man who has just scored the winner against his greatest rival.
There are raw emotions on both sides at the final whistle. Mikel Arteta waves his hands in frustration; a man in a grey suit gives Gianluigi Donnarumma a never-ending hug. Erling Haaland smiles and points to his ear, Rayan Cherki taps his chest with a finger to confirm that, yep, he’s the man. So is Bernardo Silva, who is embraced like rarely before by Pep Guardiola.
It’s Spandex-tight at the top
Full time: Manchester City 2-1 Arsenal
Erling Haaland’s goal has given Manchester City a huge victory!
90+6 min: City substitution Nathan Ake for Antoine Semenyo.
90+5 min: So close from Havertz!
What a chance for Arsenal! Trossard, on the right, flashes a superb cross towards a group of players near the penalty spot. Havertz rises beautitfully and powers a header that beats the leaping Donnarumma and ripples the roof of the net.
Donnarumma might have saved it had it been on target, but I wouldn’t put the farm on it. Goodness me, Arsenal have had some chances today.
90+5 min Rice’s corner is headed up and partially away by O’Reilly. Arsenal are forced back to Raya and then they come again.
90+4 min A deep cross towards Gabriel is headed behind by Nunes. Corner to Arsenal…
90+3 min Arsenal are finally pinning City back. Donnarumma doesn’t come for White’s cross, which is eventually hooked clear by Nunes. Hincapie swings in another cross and the tireless Bernardo Silva heads away.
90+2 min Hincapie runs at Nunes just outside the area and goes over. Nunes leaned into him quite forcefully and was a bit lucky to get away with that. It was outside the area so VAR can’t get involved.
90 min Arsenal had some excellent spells in the first half. But in the second, despite going very close on three occasions, they haven’t been able to put City under any sustained presssure.
There will be seven added minutes.
88 min: City substitutions Savinho and Nico Gonzalez replace Jeremy Doku and the limping Rodri. He’s been magnificent in midfield.
87 min The last few minutes have been very stop-start, which suits City. I’d imagine there will be at least five added minutes.
86 min Pep Guardiola was booked for his angry reaction when Gabriel wasn’t sent off.
85 min: A substitution apiece City bring on Phil Foden for Rayan Cherki. Arsenal replace Martin Zubimendi with Viktor Gyokeres, which means a switch to 4-2-4.
83 min: It’s kicking off! Haaland and Gabriel go head to head, then Gabriel shoves his head forcefully against Haaland’s. It wasn’t quite a headbutt but it was such a risky thing to do and he could easily have been sent off. Not today: Anthony Taylor has given both players a yellow card. Haaland also shoved Gabriel before they went head to head.
The contretemps led to a shoving match involving most of the 22 players. It soon petered out.
82 min Haaland’s goal was his 23rd in the Premier League this season. He’s a nose ahead of Igor Thiago in the race for the Golden Boot.
81 min City are still dominating possession even though it’s Arsenal who need a goal. It’s been a confusing second half: City have been in control yet Arsenal have hit the post twice and forced a big save from Gianluigi Donnarumma.
79 min “Before the match, Freddie Ljungberg made the observation on Viaplay that in recent matches the Gunners had refrained from passing forward, even when the option presented itself,” writes Kári Tulinius. “They’ve been notably progressive today. If they take this attitude into the rest of the run-in, I have some hope for the title race.”
78 min Arsenal break from a City corner. For a split-second it looks like Havertz is through on goal, only for Bernardo Silva to charge back, wrestle with Havertz and force the bouncing ball to safety. Outstanding defending.
77 min In other news…
75 min Nothing against White or Mosquera but Arsenal have really missed Jurrien Timber in the last month.
74 min: Double substitution for Arsenal Ben White and Leandro Trossard replace Cristhian Mosquera and Eberechi Eze.
73 min There was a check for handball against O’Reilly but it definitely came off his side.
72 min: Gabriel hits the post!
Odegaard swings a free-kick beyond the far post, where Gabriel’s header hits O’Reilly’s side and deflects onto the inside of the post! Havertz, off balance, forces the loose ball towards goal and Khusanov blocks crucially.
Despite being under the pump, Arsenal have hit the post twice in the second half.
71 min Apart from those two near misses from Havertz and Eze, Arsenal have been on the back foot in the second half. Mikel Arteta needs to change something. Maybe it’s a job for Max Dowman.
70 min The second corner is half cleared to Doku, who mishits a left-foot shot well wide from a tight angle.
69 min Rodri’s long-range shot deflects over the bar. Cherki’s corner is headed behind for another.
68 min Hincapie shoves Haaland after another wrestling match with Gabriel. Haaland’s undershirt is ripped so he has to change it before play can resume.
Doku cut inside from the left and fed the underlapping O’Reilly, who calmly steered a speculative ball across the penalty area. Rodri distracted Hincapie at near post and Haaland held off Gabriel to clatter a left-foot shot past Raya.
It was a tremendous display of physical strength from Haaland because he and Gabriel were all over each other.
GOAL! Man City 2-1 Arsenal (Haaland 65)
Erling Haaland cracks City back in front!
64 min Eze was so close to adding another belter to his spectacular portfolio of goals. In that sense, he’s the Matthew Le Tissier des nos jours.
Incidentally, Guehi was booked for fouling Rice during the move that led to Havertz’s chance.
63 min “Accidentally found myself in an Arsenal pub for this game,” writes Rachel Clifton. “Very nervy place.... at least we have the mellifluous tones of Lee Dixon and Graeme Le Saux to calm them.”
It sounds weird but even if Arsenal lose this, they should take a lot of heart from their performance. Not even Banty McBanterface could accuse them of bottling it today.
61 min: Eze hits the post!
Eze receives the ball 20 yards from goal, swerves away from Khusanov and whips a thrilling left-foot curler that beats the diving Donnarumma, hits the inside of the post and flies across the face of goal. Goodness me, this is pulsating stuff.
59 min: Big save by Donnarumma!
A slick break from Arsenal ends with Odegaard putting Havertz through on goal with a short pass into the area. Havertz stretches to screw a shot that is superbly blocked by the outrushing Donnarumma. The follow-up – not sure who it was – dribbles towards the line and is cleared with time to spare by O’Reilly.
57 min “Well,” says Peter Oh, “I guess with that heavy touch and shambolic shipping of a goal, there goes the City and Italia keeper’s chance of earning the nickname Maradonnarumma.”
Talking of portmanteaus, I remain distressed that Arsenal’s march to the title in 2001-02 was never christened #Ljungbergkamp.
55 min I should have said that Martinelli has started on the right wing, which is where he was when he played that pass into Havertz. His pace could be important for Arsenal because they are struggling to get out.
53 min Martinelli shapes a fine early pass behind the City defence towards Havertz. Khusanov leans into him just outside the area and Havertz goes flying. He wants a foul – which would mean a red card for Khusanov – but Anthony Taylor plays on. It looked like a lean rather than a foul from Khusanov.
