Manchester City gained the upper hand in the Premier League title race with a 2-1 victory over leaders Arsenal on Sunday, moving within three points of the summit while holding a game in hand.

Arsenal remain top of the table on 70 points from 33 matches, while City have 67 from 32 games. A win against Burnley on Wednesday would send Pep Guardiola’s side above Arsenal with five matches left to play.

City struck first in the 16th minute through Rayan Cherki, whose superb solo run and finish gave the hosts an early lead at the Etihad Stadium. Arsenal responded less than two minutes later when goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma hesitated over a clearance, allowing Kai Havertz to force the ball into the net for an equaliser.

After halftime, City controlled possession and increased the pressure as Arsenal retreated. Their dominance was rewarded in the 65th minute when Erling Haaland ended his recent scoring drought with a clinical finish to restore the lead and secure the win.

City created further chances through Antoine Semenyo and Jeremy Doku, while Arsenal struggled to mount a sustained response in the closing stages.

The defeat is another setback for Arsenal, who are chasing a first league title since 2004 and have now lost several key domestic matches in recent weeks. City, by contrast, continued their strong form and now appear favourites as the title race enters its decisive final stretch.

Oluwagbemisola Babalola

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