Manchester City club settled the fiery confrontation with its host Arsenal when it defeated it 3-1 and took the lead from it yesterday at the Emirates Stadium in London, in a postponed match from the twelfth stage of the English Premier League in football. And he took turns scoring the Belgian “Citizens” trio, Kevin De Bruyne (24), Jack Grealish (72), and Norwegian Erling Haaland (82), while Bukayo Saka scored Arsenal’s only goal (42 from a penalty kick).
Manchester City rose to the top of the standings following raising its tally to 51 points, the same as Arsenal’s tally, which became second on goal difference with a postponed match.
This is the first time that Arsenal has lost the lead since last November, but it has squandered points in three of its last five matches (the day before yesterday), as it won twice once morest two draws and a defeat.
But his loss yesterday did not end his hopes of winning the title, as he still had 16 stages ahead of him, in addition to playing a match less than his opponent, which Guardiola referred to in his statement following the match, saying, “They still have a postponed match, so I consider them leaders, but it might have been.” To be eight, nine or 10 points away two weeks ago, and now here we are.”
But this match came in the midst of two major arguments. The first is that Arsenal feels unfair following the referees’ staff admitted a mistake in reviewing the video assistant referee (VAR), which should have canceled the equalizing goal for Brentford in the last stage due to an offside situation, injuring coach Mikel Arteta’s men. Frustrated following losing to Everton before it. The second is that City is under the microscope of being accused of more than 100 violations of the rules of fair play by the English Premier League.
And the “City” opened the scoring in the 24th minute, following a fatal mistake by the Japanese Takehiro Tomiyasu when he passed an incomplete ball to the back that De Bruyne had on the lookout, so he played it with one touch over goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale into the net. Arsenal got a penalty kick following Edward Nketiah was obstructed inside the area by Brazilian goalkeeper Ederson, so Saka ran to her and put her into the net to the right of the goalkeeper (42). In the second half, Arsenal tried to impose its rhythm without success.
“Citizens” got a penalty kick in the 57th minute following Haaland was hindered by the Brazilian Gabriel, before the “VAR” technology intervened and canceled the decision due to the presence of an offside situation on the Norwegian striker.
And following City missed a real opportunity to score the second goal in the 68th minute, following Spaniard Rodri raised his head to a cross that Ramsdale blocked, then unilaterally with Haaland, Guardiola’s men were able to double the score in the 72nd minute, following a series of quick passes, started by the Portuguese Bernardo Silva to Haaland and from him to German Ilkay Gundogan, who “missed it” to reach Grealish, who was unmarked in the area, hit a ball that also hit Tomiaso and deceived Ramsdale before it hit the net.
Haaland fired a mercy shot at Arsenal in the 82nd minute by scoring the third goal, following receiving a pass from De Bruyne inside the area, and he hit a powerful ball that hit the net. It is Halland’s 26th goal in the league this season, cementing his position at the top of the scorers’ list.