The Premier League title race took yet another twist on Sunday that would ensure it all goes down to the wire. Manchester City’s 2-1 win against Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium has more or less been blown wide open, with the Cityzens now moving to within three points of the Gunners.
The highly anticipated fixture seemingly lived up to the bill with City getting the lead early on, but that lead did not last up to a minute, with Kai Havertz pouncing on an error from goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma to restore parity. The game seemingly looked poised for a draw up until Erling Haaland scored what would go on to be the winner in the 65th minute. There were huge scenes of celebrations among the city fans and players after the final whistle, pretty much saying the unsaid words that the title race is sort of equally now in their hands as well.
Title race—the current situation
Manchester City’s win against Arsenal means that the Gunners’ lead at the top of the table has now been reduced to just three points. When you further consider that City still have a game in hand—which, if they win, will put them level on points with the Gunners. This now hints at a possibility of goal difference playing a big part in who could win the Premier League title. As it stands, both sides still have destinies in their own hands, and it would mostly depend on who can stay ‘perfect’ the most between now and the end of the season while also scoring the most goals in the process.
Cities somewhat have the momentum
There is every suggestion, though, to think now that Pep Guardiola’s men have the upper hand in the title run-in. There is the obvious fact of a psychological collapse attributed to the Gunners, who have finished second for three seasons in a row. There would surely now be fears within their dressing room that it could yet be a fourth. Also, the Gunners still have the Champions League semi-final against Atletico Madrid to think about in between, while City have a ‘kinder’ FA Cup fixture against Southampton, who knocked the Gunners out in the quarter-finals.
Everything now points to an exciting title run, where every single point, victory, defeat, and even goal scored could mean more than what they actually are in the grand scheme of who ends up winning the Premier League title come May.