After defeating the league’s leading team, Arsenal, 4-1, Manchester City dealt a significant blow to Arsenal’s chances of winning the English Premier League.
The contest captured the contrasts between the opposing factions and revealed where each side is in its own progress.
After just seven minutes, a spectacular goal from outside the box by Kevin De Bruyne gave the home team the lead. The home team immediately assumed control of the game.
Prior to John Stones scoring off a De Bruyne free kick shortly before halftime, Manchester City then wasted significant chances to extend its lead.
Erling Haaland scored his 33rd Premier League goal of the season in stoppage time to seal City’s decisive victory. De Bruyne added a third goal in the second half, and even though Rob Holding cut the lead, City still won easily.
With two games remaining, Pep Guardiola’s squad has moved Manchester City up to within two points of the Gunners. If City was now on track to win a third straight Premier League championship, De Bruyne stayed mum.
De Bruyne told BT Sport: “We know what people would say whomever wins this game, but I think it’s so hard and a lot of things can happen.
“There are still seven games left, which is a lot of points, and even though we have two games left, we are still behind them. People will claim that we can win the championship right away, but I know this team, and we won’t give up until it can be done mathematically.
Guardiola discussed the mentality his team has employed throughout its recent string of resounding victories in the Premier League, which City has won its previous seven.
The 52-year-old Guardiola stated to BT Sport: “We are back-to-back Premier League winners so in September, October, November, when you lose a game, I said: “We have time, we have time,” and Arsenal in the beginning was absolutely the reverse – so every game is like a final.Affirming his team’s performance and where Arsenal stands in the title battle, Guardiola’s rival Mikel Arteta provided an open assessment of his team.
The better team definitely defeated us, Arteta asserted. When that’s the case, it’s really challenging to match their performance. They were amazing today.
With five games left in the league, anything is possible, therefore we won’t give up.
While Arsenal plays its next Premier League match against London rivals Chelsea, Manchester City will go to London this weekend to face Fulham in an effort to keep its winning streak going.
Meanwhile, Manchester City’s quest for the Treble was strengthened by Wednesday’s triumph.
In the Champions League semifinals on May 9 and 17, City will play Real Madrid, a 14-time champion of the European Cup.
The current European champion will be a big challenge to City, but after defeating Bayern Munich in the quarterfinals, Guardiola’s team will be full of confidence.
The FA Cup final will take place on June 3 between Manchester United and City. One week before the Champions League final in Istanbul is scheduled to begin, City may complete a Triple by winning the first-ever Manchester Derby at this stage of the knockout cup competition.
