Sam Wallace
Sam Wallace
Erling Haaland holds his head
Erling Haaland reacts after missing a chance to score Credit: Peter Cziborra/Reuters
They are only just clinging on in the Premier League title race, but so much of what Manchester City did on this night suggested that not even they believe that catching Arsenal is possible.
The winning goals a few miles west at the Emirates Stadium went in for Arsenal as the teams were warming up. If the intensity of Mikel Arteta’s players was an indicator of what was required then City never really had it.
By the end of the night, the swing for Arsenal felt immense: nine points clear with City having played one game fewer and that clash between the two clubs later this month.
Pep Guardiola, banned from the touchline and watching from the stands had a squad so good that his bench alone looked strong enough to qualify for the Champions League. But they started slowly and even in the desperate final moments it never really flowed.
Bernardo Silva’s miscued cross gave his team the lead in the 31st minute but City tossed it away quickly with a soft goal conceded from a corner – headed in by Kostas Mavropanos.
Bernardo Silva puts City ahead with a brilliant finish ⚡@tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/TJlVcu8dWt
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 14, 2026
On the phone constantly to his assistant Pep Lijnders, Guardiola unleashed a series of second-half substitutions in pursuit of the goal. One of whom was the ebullient Rayan Cherki, the night’s best entertainment.
Guardiola had started the game in a new kind of formation very different to his old principle of wingers who stayed high and wide. Omar Marmoush and Antoine Semenyo tucked in behind Erling Haaland and the going was slow. City looked better when Jérémy Doku came on for the final push and Cherki pulled the strings in midfield.
Had West Ham got their act together on a couple of promising late counterattacks then who knows. Either way, they look so much more solid. No more so than when Mavropanos took a big shot from Haaland right in the face.
Mavropanos equalises and the London Stadium goes wild 🔥@tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/77MdZk4PEo
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 14, 2026
West Ham moved out of the relegation places, a point above above Nottingham Forest, who host Fulham on Sunday, and level on points with Tottenham.
When the ball dropped to Marc Guehi in the West Ham box in the 95th minute the home team could do no more than offer up a little prayer of hope. He duly flayed it over with his right foot.
Full report to follow...