**_LONDON_**: Manchester City are ratcheting up the pressure on Arsenal for what promises to be a classic Premier League title battle over the remaining seven weeks of the season. In both 2023 and 2024 City overtook the Gunners on the run-in. They opened the prospect of a hat-trick of turn-arounds by defeating Chelsea 3-0 at Stamford Bridge.
Goals from Nico O’Reilly, Marc Guehi and Jeremy Doku lifted City within six points of the Gunners. City have one game in hand. More, an ever-improving City will be favourites to beat a nervous Arsenal at the Etihad next Sunday and move ever closer.
City are also only three goals adrift of Arsenal in terms of goal difference. No wonder their superstar fan Noel Gallagher was content to leave 10 minutes before the end as City’s travelling fans chanted: “Are you watching, Arsenal?”
City dominated the opening exchanges of what could, next month, be the FA Cup Final. Chelsea defended in numbers and proved dangerous on the counter-attack. Cole Palmer shot into the side, Pedro Neto forced a sharp save from Gianluigi Donnarumma and Cucurella was denied a goal by a marginal offside decision.
Guardiola would not have been happy at his team’s lack of penetration. Jeremy Doku was City’s favoured attacking outlet only to be frustrated by the quick covering of Malo Gusto and right winger Estevao. As Chelsea manager Liam Rosenior told Sky at halftime: “City have threats all over the pitch. Gusto and Estevao have done very well and we need to continue in that vein.”
Rosenior may refuse any future invitations to face the cameras midway through any more games. Six minutes after his words of praise and optimism so Chelsea’s defence fell apart twice to put City in charge.
Cherki was the creator on both occasions. In the 52nd minute he provided the angled cross from which O’Reilly headed the opening goal. Six minutes later Cherki took a pass from Doku after a corner, ran across the face of the Chelsea defence and put in Guehi for the second.
Doku robbed Moises Caicedo of possession to score an easy third goal. Caicedo will not retain any fond memories of what was his 100th Premier League appearance. Chelsea’s fifth defeat in their last six games in all competitions means managerial pressure for Rosenior – as well as for Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta.