By Razeen Gutta
Manchester City delivered the goods in their highly anticipated clash with leaders Arsenal by thrashing the Gunners 4-1 in a match termed by the football world as the “title decider”.
Kevin de Bruyne and Erling Haaland were the stars as records were torn apart in a Premier League matchday that the blue half of Manchester will never forget.
De Bruyne scored on either side of John Stones before Haaland scored a record-breaking 33rd goal in a single campaign.
The hype and eagerness of the away end was quickly dampened as de Bruyne scored just seven minutes in before setting up John Stones for the second shortly before half time.
The atmosphere inside the Etihad stadium jumped at full volume when their Belgian magician struck again after the break.
He has scored more times against the Gunners than he has managed to tally against any other team in the division.
At the death, Rob Holding gave Mikel Arteta’s side a glimmer of hope, but it would only be a consolation with the man of the hour yet to register.
Though register he did; and in some style too.
Late in stoppage time, with his headband off and the crowd singing his name, Haaland would drive one straight past Aaron Ramsdale in the Arsenal goal to put the cherry on top of the icing on the cake.
The goal was his 33rd of the Premier League campaign, beating Mohamed Salah’s all-time record of goals in a single season.
It finished 4-1; and with Arsenal still top, the Citizens will rejoice at having the title race back in their hands, with two points and two extra games separating them from a place at the summit.
The Gunners failed to win all of their last four league games — becoming the first team in 15 years to do so after starting each of the matches in first place.
Pep Guardiola’s side, on the other hand, have beaten the Gunners in 12 successive league games with the aggregate score 33-5 to the champions.
In Wednesday’s other games, Liverpool came back from behind to beat West Ham 2-1 in London while Chelsea fell at home to Brentford and Nottingham Forest upset Brighton by three goals to one at the City Ground.
Pictured above: Erling Haaland
Image source: @ManCity
