Manchester City closed in ominously on Premier League leaders Arsenal with victory in a thrilling encounter at Etihad Stadium.
Erling Haaland’s second-half strike proved decisive on an afternoon of gripping tension to leave City only three points behind Arsenal with a game in hand.
In a game where both sides created big opportunities, Rayan Cherki, who had already hit a post, showed supreme footwork and skill in a tight penalty area to put City ahead.
Arsenal equalised only 107 seconds later when City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma hesitated before striking a panic-stricken clearance in off the incoming Kai Havertz.
Haaland struck a post for City after the break, while Eberechi Eze did likewise and Donnarumma saved crucially from Havertz before Haaland swooped in trademark fashion from close range to put Pep Guardiola’s side back in front.
Defender Gabriel saw a header deflected on to a post as Arsenal tried to respond, with Havertz missing a glorious headed chance before City closed out a win as they continue to reel in the Gunners.
City secured the victory that maintains their growing momentum and applied further pressure on Arsenal through the familiar route of a Haaland winner.
This was a triumph, however, in which City had to demonstrate all their qualities before wild celebrations greeted the final whistle and three priceless points.
…Aston Villa ,Manchester United Push For Top 4 Finish
Meanwhile, Tammy Abraham scored a 93rd-minute winner to help Aston Villa boost their Champions League qualification hopes with a thrilling 4-3 win over Sunderland.
Villa were about to lose ground in the top-five race having had a 3-1 lead wiped out in 58 seconds just before the 90th minute.
But Abraham got on to the end of fellow substitute Lucas Digne’s low curling cross and deflected the ball into the net off his shin.
The result meant Villa remained fourth in the Premier League table and stretched their lead over sixth-placed Chelsea to 10 points with just 15 left to play for.
In the meantime, Manchester United took a massive stride towards securing a return to the Champions League as Matheus Cunha’s first-half goal proved enough to beat out-of-form Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea’s own hopes of a place at European club football’s top table are in peril as they suffered a fourth Premier League defeat in a row for only the second time this century and were jeered off at the final whistle.
They have failed to score in any of those losses and have not found the net since 4 March.
Yet Chelsea will wonder how they managed to extend that sorry record.
United fans celebrated only a second league win at Stamford Bridge since 2002 almost as enthusiastically as they booed Alejandro Garnacho on his first appearance against his old club.
The home supporters broke into a “we want our Chelsea back” chant, although Mason Mount’s introduction for the latter stages gave them someone to jeer as well.
BBC
