Arsenal’s grip on the Premier League title has loosened dramatically after a damaging setback at the Etihad Stadium, where Manchester City claimed a vital victory that keeps their own title hopes alive.
The Premier League leaders entered Sunday’s clash knowing a defeat was not an option, yet they were unable to stop Pep Guardiola’s side from securing all three points in what many viewed as a season-defining encounter.
Guardiola maintains an unbeaten Premier League home record against Arsenal that now stretches even further, with City dominating the fixture across nine matches – seven wins and two draws.
In those games, the Citizens have plundered 25 goals while conceding just seven and keeping four clean sheets, underscoring their total supremacy on home soil and delivering another massive blow to Arsenal’s ambitions.
The turning point came in devastating fashion shortly after City had taken a 1-0 lead.
Goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma, fresh from his Champions League success with PSG, dwelled far too long on the ball just 108 seconds later.
Kai Havertz pounced, closing him down and intercepting before slotting home the equaliser that swung momentum back towards the visitors.
Teammates rushed to comfort the Italian, but the error proved costly in the high-stakes contest.
Former City defender Micah Richards did not hold back during his half-time analysis on Sky Sports, branding the mistake “absolutely criminal.”
“To go back to your goalkeeper after going 1-0 up. Just go long. That’s all you need to do. Regroup. Set up again.”
Richards added that despite Donnarumma’s pedigree, questions had long lingered about his distribution under pressure.
The result piles fresh misery on Mikel Arteta’s side, who have now suffered four straight defeats in domestic league and cup competitions for the first time under the Spaniard – and the first time since March 2018, a slump that also featured two losses to Manchester City.
Arsenal appear to be stumbling at the worst possible moment in the title race.
Erling Haaland added to the pain, becoming only the second player to score in four consecutive Premier League meetings against Arteta’s Arsenal, following in the footsteps of Liverpool’s Diogo Jota between September 2020 and March 2022.
The Norwegian’s clinical finishing once again exposed defensive frailties that Arsenal could ill afford.
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