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Magnificent Manchester City dealt a crushing blow to Arsenal’s Premier League dream with a 4-1 win at the Etihad Stadium that puts them in control of the title race.
Kevin De Bruyne scored two and set up the other for John Stones with the irrepressible Erling Haaland, who assisted both of De Bruyne’s goals, finally getting the goal that his performance deserved by adding the fourth in stoppage time.
Rob Holding had scored late on for Arsenal but the gap is down to two points and, crucially, City still have two games in hand. For Arsenal, their first defeat since February is also their fourth game without a win. Amid the tension, De Bruyne had the coolest head of them all.
He regularly found the space between Arsenal’s pressing midfield and their backtracking defence. Haaland had room to run into, producing one wicked strike of the bouncing ball, but his failure to connect cleanly with two other shots allowed Ramsdale to save.
With Arsenal’s attacking threat looking more of a rumour than a fact, Guardiola would have felt his side deserved more than a one-goal lead at the break and they duly had their second late in the half. Only a booking.
The change of ends brought no turnaround just more of the same with even the reliable Arsenal players rattled. The striker then picked up a loose pass by Martin Odegaard and fed De Bruyne for his second.
Though Holding’s fine finish reduced the deficit to two late in the game, there was little prospect of a comeback, the contest turning into a procession. Those still hoping for a title race will be anxious that the rest of the season does not play out the same way.
Arteta was magnanimous in defeat, unable to hide the obvious gulf in quality between the two teams.
“The analysis is clear, the better team won the game, they were probably at their best, especially in the first half and we were nowhere near the level. We got punished and we could have been punished even more.
“We played an exceptional team but we are an exceptional team too and today we were not at the races.”
Asked why that was the case, Arteta said he would prefer to have that conversation with his players but he did expand on his concerns. First we have to lift the players because it is a difficult one to swallow.”
Guardiola chose to focus on his own team’s performance as the reason for Arsenal’s level dipping. Still, they are top of the league, the reality is that we are two points behind but we have two games in hand.
“I think the next three games will be really important but the most important thing is the destiny is in our hands. If Arsenal win, it is in theirs. There is no way Arsenal finish above Man City next season, you do not realise how close they have come this season.
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