Man City v Arsenal: Did Haaland just save Gabriel from a red card? Was this the moment the Gunners lost the title?

Manchester City defeated Arsenal to take control of the Premier League title race following an enthralling showdown at the Etihad. Erling Haaland scored the winner in the 65th minute to settle a thrilling contest after the Gunners went agonisingly close to taking the lead. Eberechi Eze struck the inside of the post just a couple of minutes before Haaland held off Gabriel to volley City into the lead.

It leaves City three points behind Arsenal in the title race and with the chance to go top for the first time this season on Wednesday night. And, after Kai Havertz missed a golden chance to equalise in stoppage time, it means the title race will go right down to the wire. Here are five talking points from Man City’s 2-1 win over the Gunners.

Erling Haaland’s ripped shirt symbolises Man City’s win Three years ago it was the sight of Erling Haaland’s long hair flowing behind him as he celebrated the final goal of Manchester City’s thumping 4-1 over Arsenal that summed up how Pep Guardiola ’s side had ripped apart Mikel Arteta’s challengers. Three years later, the sight of Haaland’s ripped undershirt, following his latest grappling duel with Gabriel Magalhaes , that symbolised another defining victory. City were not rampant this time.

Arsenal went away from that bruising defeat in April 2023 and returned stronger, both physically and mentally. And yet, Haaland was still able to hold off Arsenal’s biggest and most important defender as he fired the winning goal to settle a colossal clash. Following Jeremy Doku’s surge into the box and Nico O’Reilly’s flick across goal, Haaland pounced on the chance as he held off Gabriel to volley in.