Soccer
Mikel Arteta the Arsenal manager with Pep Guardiola the Manchester City manager. Copyright: ImagoxConorxMolloyx
The Premier League title race took a tilt in Manchester City‘s favour this evening after they sealed a 2-1 win over Arsenal at the Etihad, Soccernet.ng reports.
Pep Guardiola’s side came into today’s clash six points off the league leaders, although they have a game in hand. Still, they needed three points to be in charge of their own fate, and they did that in front of their fans.
City didn’t take too long to get things started, as Rayan Cherki broke the deadlock in the 16th minute. The French midfielder found the bottom-left corner with a precise finish after drifting past Gabriel.
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It took Arsenal just two minutes to respond, but via Donnarumma’s error. The former PSG goalkeeper attempted to send the ball out under pressure from Havertz, but the German intercepted the ball, sending it into the back of the net.
Arsenal came close again through Eberechi Eze, but the Englishman’s attempt hit the inside of the post and went out.
Haaland’s goal in the second half made all the difference, though. The big Norwegian’s patience paid off after holding off Gabriel; he tapped home from Nico O’Reilly’s shot to score his first league goal in two months.
Have a look at what the fans feel about Manchester City closing the points gap at the top of the Premier League table after defeating Arsenal, as compiled by Soccernet.ng.
Soccer Arsenal fans losing faith in Mikel Arteta after Manchester City loss
“Why is he just deciding to start attacking football? Where has this been since? Every player stood out today. Why did he start taking risks when he’s three points ahead of City. He [Arteta] just wants to prove a point,” Godfrey Peter said.
“Arsenal have now become a wine bottling company. The first half was good, but the second half there was some fear factor,” another fan opined.
“With what has happened, Arsenal cannot defeat Atletico Madrid. I’d have preferred Barcelona, but Atletico can neutralise Arsenal. They should focus on the Premier League.”
“We’ve played all the big games, now it’s time for Arsenal to lock in. I don’t see Manchester City winning all their remaining games, they’ve not been as good this season,” Wizard Chan added.
“The only thing is that Arsenal need to capitalise whenever Manchester City drop points, because they’re still in the FA Cup,” he concluded.
Should Manchester City seal a win in their outstanding game, they’ll be top of the Premier League via goal difference.
Adefolahan Guerreiro
Adefolahan is a multilingual sports journalist and football writer whose work spans outlets like Soccernet Nigeria, Pure Football UK, and Royalsportz.
With a sharp eye for detail and a background in college sports, he tells the African football story with depth, flair, and global perspective.
Fluent in English, Spanish, and German, he brings a cross-cultural voice to his coverage, blending insight with accessibility for readers around the world.
His portfolio includes interviews with top Nigerian stars like Finidi George, Junior Lokosa, Sikiru Alimi, Sodiq Ismaila, and Abraham Onahi Ogbu.
A devoted Borussia Dortmund fan, Adefolahan thrives on the emotion and rhythm of the beautiful game. Away from work, he’s a sci-fi enthusiast and series lover who enjoys exploring how sport, storytelling, and culture collide.
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