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Manchester City 2-1 Arsenal: Erling Haaland snatched victory with a calm second-half finish in an enthralling clash that could be hugely damaging for the Gunners
Richard Jolly at the Etihad & Chris WilsonSunday 19 April 2026 22:45 BST- Bookmark
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Mikel Arteta said Arsenal needed to be more ‘ruthless’ in defeat at Manchester City (Reuters)Mikel Arteta said Arsenal needed to be more “ruthless” and lamented that “luck” was not on their side as Manchester City took control of the Premier League title race with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over the Gunners in a frantic clash at the Etihad.
City still trail their title rivals by three points but if they win their game in hand over doomed Burnley in midweek, they will leapfrog the Gunners at the top with just five games remaining.
Perhaps predictably, Erling Haaland was the hero as he expertly swept home with 25 minutes remaining and Pep Guardiola's side clung on despite Arsenal hitting the woodwork on multiple occasions in the second half, through Eberechi Eze and Gabriel Magalhaes, and Kai Havertz rippling the roof of the net deep in injury time.
Although Gabriel was “lucky” to avoid a red card for pushing his head towards Haaland’s, Arteta reflected that the title race showdown could have gone either way. “I don't think there was any difference between the two teams,” he said. “There is an element of luck, whether the ball goes in or not. We were close, not close enough.”
Relive all the action from Man City v Arsenal, below
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- Erling Haaland admits he could have got Gabriel sent off for head-butt
- Miguel Delaney: The two major problems facing Arsenal after Man City take control
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Vieira on Arsenal
“I think Arsenal had a good performance but the difference between good teams and great teams, you can see that on the field. Those top players make the difference,” said Patrick Vieira on Sky.
“Arsenal will feel more of the pressure now. I would question the mental strength of the team even more now,” he added.
Chris Wilson19 April 2026 22:45Neville full of praise for Silva
Here’s some praise for Silva from Gary Neville on Sky:
Chris Wilson19 April 2026 22:30WATCH: Silva & Haaland speak at full-time
Here’s the entertaining interview with Silva and Haaland after the final whistle on Sky:
Chris Wilson19 April 2026 22:15'Title race not over yet'
This title race is not over yet, I still feel like there are some more twists and turns to come,” says former Man Utd striker Wayne Rooney on BBC’s Match of the Day.
“It is is obviously going to be tight but City have got one more game to try to win, so I still have Arsenal down as slight favourites.
“I've been in this situation myself, where you need to win all your games for the title. You look at your games and you think well we should win this one, or that one, but it never pans out that way.
“From now until the end of the season it is just going to be down to which team keeps their composure the best - that's who will win it,” he added.
(AP)Chris Wilson19 April 2026 22:00ICYMI: Watch as City wrap up huge win
Here are the scenes at full-time as City secured a potentially pivotal three points:
Chris Wilson19 April 2026 21:45WATCH: Cherki & Haaland secure vital City win
Here are the highlights of the two City goals then.
A spectacular run and finish from Rayan Cherki to get the hosts started...
And an equally accomplished finish from Haaland to secure the three points!
Chris Wilson19 April 2026 21:30Haaland: 'Look at the energy we used'
Here’s what Haaland has to say to Match of the Day:
“Look at the battles, look at the energy we used, look at the atmosphere. It was amazing. Everyone knows how much I enjoyed that. A good win.
“You need to stay focused, know what you want to do. We have a plan, you need to execute and do what you can do to win the game."
“I expected us to have a lot of the ball, I expected them to press us high, they are really good at this."
On what the City dressing room was like before the game, he explains: "We played them a few weeks ago so we knew a bit about what you're going into it. It's at our home and we kind of knew what was going to happen.
“Everyone knew if we lost this game or didn't win this game it kind of would be over so we are still in the race. The locker room before was calm because we knew what we had to do because of the Carabao Cup final and the Chelsea game. We still need to keep building and take it step by step because it's another game on Wednesday,” he added.
Tempers frayed between Arsenal’s Gabriel (left) and Manchester City’s Erling Haaland at the Etihad Stadium (Martin Rickett/PA) (PA Wire)Chris Wilson19 April 2026 21:15Most fans want Man City to beat Arsenal to the title. Why?
Manchester City have won six of the last eight Premier League titles and have become, for some, the ‘default champions’. But what does it say about the modern game that many neutrals would prefer to see a ‘sportswashing project’ edge out Mikel Arteta’s team in the title race?
Most fans want Man City to beat Arsenal to the title. Why?
Manchester City have won six of the last eight Premier League titles and have become, for some, the ‘default champions’. But what does it say about the modern game that many neutrals would prefer to see a ‘sportswashing project’ edge out Mikel Arteta’s team in the title race? By Miguel DelaneyMiguel Delaney19 April 2026 21:00Guardiola on key trio
Here’s more from Pep Guardiola on a key trio this afternoon:
On Nico O'Reilly, he explains: "Incredible defensive, offensively and set pieces. What a player he is becoming. Playing different positions. He is exceptional. He had the composure today to take the ball and again arrive in the final third for the second goal.
“What a season! I don't know if he is the best player or the man of the season but the young one? Guys, it has to be."
On Donnarumma: "[Khusanov] has to block better and the aggression of Havertz. But I liked the reaction of his mates, they were there to help him.
"When I see teams when they concede a goal and everyone is complaining, I don't like that."
On Bernardo Silva, he adds: "If you continue to talk about him, I will cry, so be careful. It will be so emotional the moment when he is going to leave. Bernardo is Bernardo. You cannot define him.
"I feel sometimes he has not been seen as a public figure. The stature, he is not fast, he is not strong... but football starts from here [points to his head] and finishes with the feet.
"I feel gratitude for what this guy has done for many, many years."
(Reuters)Chris Wilson19 April 2026 20:45Guardiola: 'Momentum shifts in one instance'
There’s more from Guardiola speaking to Sky too:
“If I say the momentum has changed, I would say the momentum for Arsenal is bad when I've seen today them playing like this, how is this bad momentum?
"They're in the semi-finals of the Champions League, didn't lose one game. Momentum shifts in one instance. They know it.
“I have a lot of respect but, of course, we want to win. We fought a lot as well. For many players today, they fought for the first time for the Premier League and they felt the pressure a little bit, performances were not top but that is normal, it's the process."
Chris Wilson19 April 2026 20:37Newer1 / 15OlderMore about
ArsenalManchester CityMikel ArtetaPep GuardiolaErling HaalandEberechi EzeKai HavertzGianluigi DonnarummaJoin our commenting forum
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