Man City-A merciless 5-1 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday put Manchester City on path for a fourth straight Premier League title, only hours after Arsenal’s 3-0 victory over Bournemouth kept them temporarily stop the rankings. With a game remaining, Pep Guardiola’s squad closed the gap on Arsenal to just one point thanks to four goals from Erling Haaland. Newcastle United’s 4-1 victory against Burnley put them in sixth position and put their hosts in danger of dropping down to the lower leagues.
The Race for the title
Brentford and Fulham played to a 0-0 draw, while Nottingham Forest defeated Sheffield United 3-1 to climb three points clear of the bottom three. Arsenal overcame another obstacle in their quest for their first league title in twenty years, hours before City’s merciless triumph. Arsenal took the lead thanks to a penalty converted by Bukayo Saka just before halftime. With a second goal on minute 70, Leandro Trossard calmed the crowd inside the Emirates, and Declan Rice scored a third goal deep into stoppage time. “Then credit to Bournemouth they changed things and the game became more open which we wanted to avoid.” Then, on the last day, Arsenal hosts Everton at home before visiting Manchester United at Old Trafford. If City was under any strain following Arsenal’s victory, it was evident at the Etihad as Haaland and the holders easily defeated Wolves. “If we score nine or more points, we’ll win. Arsenal will win the Premier League with seven, six, or three points, according to Guardiola.
Manchester City’s victory
In the 12th minute, Haaland scored from the penalty spot to increase his league scoring lead to 25 goals. A minute later, in the 35th, he doubled City’s advantage by heading in at the far post from Rodri’s cross. Just before halftime, the 23-year-old converted once again from that position. In the 53rd, Hwang Hee-chan gave Wolves a response, but a minute later, Haaland scored his fourth goal. Julian Alvarez, a substitute, capped City’s scoring. Before playing West Ham United at home to end the season, Guardiola’s squad travels to play Fulham and Tottenham Hotspur. Newcastle defeated Burnley handily thanks to a goal by Alexander Isak, his 20th league goal of the year, which preserved their chances of competing in Europe the following year. Callum Wilson, Sean Longstaff, and Bruno Guimaraes secured goals on a day that was marginally spoiled by Isak’s unsuccessful penalty kick. “We are a tremendously excellent squad when we are going forward and being really aggressive. This season, it’s come and gone, but today was excellent and a great foundation to build upon,” Longstaff stated.
Arsenal’s triumph
With two games remaining for both sides, Forest gained a key advantage over Luton Town, who are now in 18th position, thanks to a brace by Callum Hudson-Odoi. This helped ease some of the pressure on the club. Sheffield was still bottom with 16 points, having previously been demoted. “We made significant progress, but the story is far from over,” stated Nuno Espirito Santo, manager of Forest. “We’ve still got hard games to play.” Ben Brereton Diaz’s penalty gave Sheffield the lead in the 16th minute, but Danilo’s cross into the box with Hudson-Odoi 11 minutes later tied the score.
Implications for the Title Race
Shortly after the interval, Ryan Yates gave Forest the lead with his first-ever league goal. In the 65th minute, Hudson-Odoi finished his brace with a rocket into the near bottom corner. Sheffield made Premier League history by being the first team to let up 100 goals in 38 games. Swindon Town let up 100 goals in 42 games during the 1993–94 season as well. In a game of wasted opportunities, Fulham replacement Raul Jimenez failed to seize the opportunity to settle the West London derby against Brentford. Jimenez had just been on the pitch for nine minutes when Adama Traore’s cross found him in space and time, but he still managed to send his shot over the crossbar in the 73rd minute.
Challenges Ahead
Nathan Ake, a standout for Manchester City, has stated that the squad would not let Arsenal’s results in the intense Premier League championship fight get in the way of their plans. Thanks to goals from Josko Gvardiol and Erling Haaland, City defeated Nottingham Forest 2-0 to close the deficit, and they still have one game remaining. In an intense North London Derby, Arsenal defeated Tottenham 3-2 earlier in the day, and Mikel Arteta’s team is now one point ahead of City.
