Manchester City knew that only a win would do when they took on Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium with seven games left to play.
Fail to win, and the Premier League title would have been the Gunners’ to lose.
Instead, despite Kai Havertz cancelling out **Rayan Cherki**’s opener (with a helping hand from Gianluigi Donnarumma), Erling Haaland struck in the second half to ensure the title race was back in City’s hands.
Here are four things we learnt from a colossal victory at the Etihad.
PL title: City’s to lose
**Pep Guardiola**’s side are now three points behind **Mikel Arteta**’s men at the top of the Premier League table with a game in hand.
That game in hand will come against Crystal Palace in May, where a win would send the Blues top due to their superior goal record over Arsenal.
Having trailed the north London side for so long this season, the title is now officially City’s to lose.
On the back of four straight wins over ‘big six’ sides, including two over their title rivals, things seem to have finally clicked for this new, young group of players.
As for the Gunners, they have picked up just one win in their last six games in all competitions. There is a big contrast in trajectories between these two sides, and having suffered such a damaging defeat, falling behind in the title race - an all too familiar feeling - their next match at home to Newcastle is now even bigger.
However, the Citizens do still have six to play in the league, with trips to Everton and Bournemouth particularly tricky, as well as another final day showdown against Aston Villa at the Etihad.
Let’s not forget it was just in March when the club drew to Nottingham Forest and West Ham, there’s still a long way to go.
The incredible technical ability of Rayan Cherki has been apparent for some time now. He’s enjoyed a fine debut campaign at Manchester City, and this weekend he became the first player in the league to register 10 goals and 10 assists in all competitions.
While he caught the eye with his trickery in the Carabao Cup final and left mouths watering with a breathtaking second half at Chelsea on April 12, this was different.
He’s proven to Guardiola that he is undroppable now, and his goal in this blockbuster clash was his latest masterpiece.
Undoubtedly his most important - and probably most impressive - goal for the club to date, the Frenchman glided through the Arsenal defence, weaving in and out of flailing legs before coolly finding the bottom corner.
To do that in a game of this magnitude shows exactly what he’s made of. City aren’t in a title race without him.
In the City-Arsenal battles that have had the whole world watching in recent seasons, one major recurring subplot has been the duels between Erling Haaland and Gabriel Magalhaes.
Last season’s dramatic encounter at the Etihad produced the infamous ‘stay humble, eh’ incident, which followed Haaland celebrating **John Stones**’ equaliser by launching the ball at Gabriel’s head.
When the sides last went toe-to-toe for the title in 2023/24, the Norwegian failed to get on the scoresheet, as Arsenal’s number six seemed to have his number.
This term, the league’s top goalscorer has netted against the Gunners in both league meetings.
On Sunday, April 19, Haaland battled fiercely with his Brazilian counterpart, which saw tensions boil over. Ultimately, Gabriel was rather fortunate to stay on the pitch, while Haaland scored the goal that put the power back in City’s hands.
Bernardo Silva: bowing out in style
It will be strange to see a competitive Manchester City side without Bernardo Silva in it.
Alas, it was announced on April 16 that the Portuguese will leave the Etihad after nine decorated seasons, but he’s doing all in his power to go out in a blaze of glory.
Silva, who was named club captain at the start of the campaign, has been a true leader for Guardiola’s side this season, providing a glowing example for the stars of a new-look City side aiming to emulate those that have gone before.
Week in, week out, the 31-year-old has been turning in top class displays this term. Displays made of the same technical ability, fight and passion we’ve seen in abundance for the best part of the last decade.
On Sunday, April 19, he broke up attacks and spent a lot of time in a centre-back role, starting buildups, facilitating play for others. That’s Bernardo all over.
He’s already got a Carabao Cup under his belt as skipper, and there’s still two more domestic trophies to play for…