EPL: Haaland hits winner as Man City pip Arsenal to blow open title race

Manchester City defeated Arsenal 2-1 in their high-stakes English Premier League (EPL) encounter at the Etihad stadium on Sunday.
The battle at the top was fierce in Manchester, but it was City that triumphed, thanks to Erling Haaland’s second half winner, reducing the Gunners’ lead at the top to just three points.
Ryan Cherki put City in the lead but Kai Havertz restored parity, before the Norwegian striker netted the winner with his 23rd league goal of the season.
Martin Odegaard returned for Arsenal, while Havertz also got his first start in two months, and Haaland led the line for City with Cherki behind the giant striker.
The hosts hit the post early on and deservedly took the lead on 16 minutes when Cherki exhibited his range of skills to waltz through three Arsenal defenders before slotting beyond the goalkeeper for 1-0.
The Gunners were, however, level two minutes later when Gianluigi Donnarumma was closed down by Havertz, and the Italian goalkeeper’s attempted clearance hit Havertz and went into an empty net for 1-1.
The feisty and entertaining encounter went up a notch in the second period, where Havertz was denied by Donnarumma at point-blank range, and Eberechi Eze hit the base of the post, before the hosts punished Arsenal minutes later.
A patient build-up ended with a cross finding its way to Haaland, and the Norway striker finished with aplomb to score what proved to be the winner.
Arsenal almost grabbed the equaliser in the closing stages, but they could not, and extended their winless run at the Etihad Stadium to nine years.
Pep Guardiola’s side is still in second place with 67 points from 32 matches, three points less than Arsenal, who have played a game more.