Report By Dr Talal osman
Erling Haaland was the hero as Manchester City struck a huge blow in the Premier League title race by beating rivals Arsenal 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium. Haaland outmuscled Gabriel to meet Nico O'Reilly's centre in the 65th minute of a tense encounter, ending his two-month wait for a league goal. It had previously looked as though a glaring error from City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma might keep Arsenal in the driver’s seat in the tussle for the title, with the Italian's clearance being charged down by Kai Havertz soon after Rayan Cherki's 16th-minute opener. Eberechi Eze and Gabriel hit the woodwork for Mikel Arteta's side either side of Haaland’s winner, but the Gunners' best chance to snatch a point came when Havertz headed onto the roof of the net deep into stoppage time. Man City are now three points off the summit ahead of visiting Burnley in their game in hand on Wednesday, when a victory would see them leapfrog Arsenal with five more matches to play. How the match unfolded Arsenal had two huge let-offs inside four minutes. Goalkeeper David Raya almost had the ball taken off his toes by Haaland, then Cherki's shot deflected off Gabriel and struck the inside of the post, with City appealing in vain for handball. Cherki's next involvement resulted in a wonderful goal as he danced around Gabriel before slotting into the far corner, but Arsenal were gifted an equaliser just 107 seconds later. Donnarumma took too long after receiving a throw-in from Matheus Nunes enabling Havertz to close him down, diverting the 'keeper's clearance into the net. Chances were then at a premium until Haaland clipped the outside of the post early in the second half, while Arsenal twice went close. Donnarumma atoned for his error with a massive save to deny Havertz in a one-on-one, then Eze's drive bounced to safety off the inside of the upright. But City got the decisive goal when some sublime link-up play between Jeremy Doku and O'Reilly freed the latter, whose pass squirmed into Haaland, and he finished emphatically on the slide. Arsenal hit the post again through Gabriel, before they squandered their last chance when Havertz's header landed on the roof of the net.
