LEEDS UNITED 0-1 MANCHESTER CITY: Pep Guardiola's side have cut Arsenal's lead at the top of the Premier League to just two points ahead of the Londoners' huge game against Chelsea
Antoine Semenyo celebrates after scoring for Manchester City
Antoine Semenyo celebrates after scoring for Manchester City(Image: Oli Scarff/AFP)
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Antoine Semenyo struck the decisive goal which allowed Manchester City to keep up the pressure on Arsenal with victory away at Leeds United.
The Gunners started the weekend with a five-point advantage at the Premier League summit but, with City playing 24 hours earlier than Mikel Arteta's men, knew that gap could be down to two points by the time they kicked off in their game with Chelsea on Sunday.
City took full advantage, albeit by the slenderest of margins. The deadlock was broken in the dying embers of the first half when Semenyo ghosted in between Leeds' centre-halves to finish a slick move from six yards.
Semenyo's strike proved to be the game's decisive moment as neither City or Leeds were able to find the net in the second half. Here are Mirror Football's big talking points from the game...
1) No Haaland, no problem
The big talking point pre-match was the absence of Erling Haaland: Manchester City's imperious Leeds-born striker who would have almost certainly led the line for Pep Guardiola's side. Step forward, Semenyo.
City's January acquisition from Bournemouth predominantly played centrally to try and plug the gap left by Haaland and it was his sixth goal since moving to The Etihad which nudged the visitors in front.
Haaland exudes main character energy and, barring any major change in circumstances, will be City's main man for a long time to come. But Semenyo's impact since linking up with City has been significant - and he's quickly becoming an important figure in this team.
2) O'Reilly worry
Nico O'Reilly impressed again for Manchester City against Leeds
Nico O'Reilly impressed again for Manchester City against Leeds(Image: Oli Scarff/AFP)
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Semenyo may have caught the eye for City recently, but he's far from alone on that front. And Nico O'Reilly produced another impressive display in an advanced midfield position as he continues to build a compelling case to make England's World Cup squad.
Excellent filling in at left-back, O'Reilly was at the heart of plenty of good things here, even if he was unable to continue his fine scoring run after plundering three goals in his last two games.
The sight of him hobbling off the field in the second half, then, was the only sour note on an evening which could prove to be pivotal in the title race. City will hope O'Reilly's issue is nothing serious.
3) Calvert-Lewin and Leeds fail to fire
Dominic Calvert-Lewin led the line for Leeds against Manchester City
Dominic Calvert-Lewin led the line for Leeds against Manchester City(Image: Justin Setterfield)
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Daniel Farke quipped that Calvert-Lewin was 'the only striker to come close' to Erling Haaland after anointing the City man as the world's best centre forward. And with the Norwegian missing, Calvert-Lewin took centre stage.
The former Everton man has enjoyed a renaissance at Elland Road and already had 10 goals to his name before Saturday evening's big game. He had two golden chances to add to that tally in the opening 20 minutes but was unable to take either of them.
He was, though, a constant thorn in the City defence's side and will have a key role to play in Leeds' bid to beat the drop.
4) City stand firm
While it's Semenyo who leaves with the headlines, another of City's January signings, Marc Guehi, played his part here alongside Ruben Dias the rest of the backline.
It's now two clean sheets in three for City, who have chalked up four straight wins. That should come as no surprise as this is generally the stage of the season where Guardiola's team starts to pur...
5) Game on in title race
Pep Guardiola and the Manchester City team
Pep Guardiola and Manchester City are closing in on Arsenal(Image: Simon Stacpoole/Offside)
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Not for the first time in recent weeks, the onus is on Arsenal to respond after City potentialy propelled themselves to within a game of the league leaders.
Arsenal play tomorrow, of course, and could restore the five-point gap that existed between the two teams at the start of the weekend. But we've seen before how the pressure of the title race can affect teams - something both City and Arsenal can attest to this season.
Over to you then, Arsenal.
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