Haaland fires Man City past Arsenal
by Kickoff writer · KickOffManchester City boosted their Premier League title charge with a 2-1 win over leaders Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday evening.
City named an unchanged starting line-up from the win over Chelsea, while the Gunners welcomed back Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz in place of Gabriel Martinelli and Viktor Gyokeres.
The Cityzens made a strong start with four minutes gone and were denied the lead when a loose shot by Rayan Cherki around the six-yard area nestled against the post.
Cherki shrugged off the miss and proved decisive nine minutes later through a perfectly struck finish in off the foot of the post after darting in to the edge of the box.
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The lead lasted all but a minute when a heavy touch on the ball by Gianluigi Donnarummam allowed Havertz to intercept and fire into an empty net, opening his account for league campaign.
City were very keen to go back in front having surrendered advantage very early and a surging header from a cross by Marc Guehi caught David Raya, who recovered to collect.
The Premier League leaders went to the bench two minutes after returning from the break and introduced Martinelli in the place of Noni Madueke.
Norwegian ace Erling Haaland was very close to putting the host back in front with a snap shot in the box following a forward pass, but he went across the face of goal.
Haaland did come good a little to the midway mark of the second period after he latched onto a teasing ball from Nico O’Reilly and bulged the net with his 22nd league goal.
City were keen to extend their lead later on with the teasing runs in the channels by Cherki, Jeremy Doku and Antoine Semenyo, but the Gunners remained firm at the back.
Havertz looked to come good again in a lengthy stoppage time with a golden chance in the box, but he blazed over as City claimed victory to close the gap to three points at the top.