Man City beat Arsenal to close gap and throw title race wide open - 6 talking points

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Manchester City sliced Arsenal's Premier League title advantage once more with a potentially decisive 2-1 win at the Etihad Stadium.

City had claimed a crucial lead early on through the mercurial Rayan Cherki. But Arsenal soon responded as Kai Havertz saw a goal gifted to him by a Gianluigi Donnarumma howler.

The German, as well as Gabriel Martinelli, had chances to turn the game on its head in the second period but were denied by the City goalkeeper.

Eberechi Eze thought he had sealed victory but saw his effort bounce off of the post. Erling Haaland eventually restored City's advantage with a predatory finish.

Victory sees City move just three points behind Arsenal in the race for the title. Here are all of the talking points from the Etihad Stadium:

City set their stall out right from the start and almost went ahead within the opening five minutes. The ball dropped to Rayan Cherki in the box and he saw his shot deflected onto the post by Gabriel.

The hosts were convinced that the Brazilian had blocked the shot with his arm, but it was arguably more of a shoulder. And neither the referee nor VAR were convinced that the incident was worthy of a penalty.

There was then another flashpoint in the second-half as Gabriel and Haaland came head to head, with the Brazilian throwing his forwards. Neither Anthony Taylor or VAR deemed it to be a red card but the defender should count himself very lucky.

While Cherki was left frustrated with his early effort, the Frenchman was celebrating with the game just 15 minutes old. The former Lyon man picked up the ball on the edge of the penalty area, skipped past a number of challenges and slotted home beyond the grasp of David Raya .

It was a goal crafted in pure skill and ingenuity. Cherki now has ten goals to his name in all competitions for City this season. If Guardiola's men go on to win the title, he will be a huge reason why.

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Cherki's goal was one of the most eye-catching in the Premier League this season - and the same could be said of Havertz's but for a completely different reason.

The German had chased down City goalkeeper Donnarumma as he attempted to clear the ball, having had it thrown back to him. But he spent far too much time deciding what to do.

His kick then cannoned into Havertz's ankle and into the back of the City net. Donnarumma has proven to be an outstanding signing but even he will accept that it was an inexplicable mistake.

Arsenal will rue the chances they had midway through the second-half to win the game - and potentially the title. From a lightning fast break, Havertz should have doubled his afternoon's work but was this time denied by Donnarumma.

The loose ball fell to substitute Martinelli but he was unable to find a way past the Italian. Eberechi Eze then had another great chance but his effort hit the inside of the post and rolled along the line, but stayed on the wrong side of it from an Arsenal perspective.

Gabriel's header also hit O'Reilly and bounced off of the upright, while Havertz nodded marginally over in stoppage time.

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If there was going to be a man to score the winner against City, it was bound to be Erling Haaland. From a booming throw from the goalkeeper, the hosts found Arsenal short at the back.

Nico O'Reilly produced a teasing cross and picked out Haaland at the far post. He had managed to escape the attentions of Gabriel and prodded home into the far corner.

It represented his 34th goal of the season, and his sixth against Arsenal in just 11 appearances.

Pep Guardiola said before the game that City needed to beat Arsenal to stand any chance of winning the title. And that's exactly what they've done.

Victory sees them move just three points behind the Gunners and with a game in hand. Of course, City are still at a disadvantage but with that game coming against relegation-bound Burnley , you'd not rule out them taking charge of the title race very soon.

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