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Reaction as Manchester City win a momentum-shifting match against Premier League leaders Arsenal Pep Guardiola's side can go to the top of the table on Wednesday if they win their game in hand away at struggling Burnley The celebrations at the end reflected the growing sense that City are poised to strike, writes Shamoon Hafez Arsenal had a nine point lead but that is now down to just three in the space of a week However, Opta's predictions still have Arsenal as favourites to win their first Premier League title in 22 years despite Sunday's defeat Written by Ben Ramsdale, Craig Nelson, Tasnim Chowdhury & Grace Wheeler Manchester City 2-1 Arsenal Sami Mokbel BBC Sport Senior football correspondent I can't think of another capitulation of this standard. It would be pretty seismic if they were now to reach the end of the season without winning anything. I think the only way Arteta isn't the manager next season is he makes the call. The ownership are 100% behind him. They want him to sign a new contract. You have to understand where Arsenal were as a club when he took over. Where they are now, we can all accept they are one of the most exciting projects in European football. There does have to be an element of perspective. Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say Man City to win the title. Don’t have any European games so can really focus on winning the title. Arsenal are gonna put their all in against Atletico in hopes Champions league trophy will save the embarrassment. Can’t believe Arsenal are about to bottle it again. Oh wait I can. Sakinah, Birmingham Click 'Get Involved' at the top of this page to have your say As a Man Utd fan, I would prefer to see Arsenal win the league of course. With both their run ins, I think Arsenal have it slightly easier but the mental aspect of losing yesterday, will affect them and could be the reason they miss out. Jamie, Norfolk Manchester City 2-1 Arsenal While Mikel Arteta is technically right that it remains in Arsenal's hands. It is also now in the hands of Manchester City with goal difference being the deciding factor should both win out from here. With that said, the Opta supercomputer certainly favours Arteta's side. Before kick-off Arsenal were given an 85. 2% likelihood of claiming their first top division title in 22 years and while that has taken a knock with defeat - it isn't as drastic as you may have predicted. Despite the gap being cut to three points and Manchester City having the chance to go top should they win their game in hand over Burnley on Wednesday evening, the supercomputer is still giving Arsenal a 73% probability of finishing on top. City on the other hand saw their title chances rise from 14. 8% to 27. 0% with the victory. Due to Pep Guardiola's side still having to play and win their game in hand, plus the strength of schedule remaining for both teams - that is what sees Arsenal remain firm favourites. Manchester City 2-1 Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, speaking to Sky Sports, on fine margins making the difference: "That's exactly that and when you don't do it and they have individual quality to deliver in those moments, you risk losing the game because I don't think there was any difference between the teams. " On if loss came down to bad luck: "There are a few elements. There is an element of luck with whether the ball goes in or not. The second one the ball deflects, it goes to Haaland. "There is individual quality as well and there is, in that moment, to be so cool, precise and ruthless. You have to be that. " On quality of the match: "Yes, there was moments but it was a battle as well, and intensity, because you expect that. "There were big parts of the game that had similarities with the first 28 minutes of the cup final because we had two massive chances to go ahead - and we didn't. That changes the course of the game. "We take it game by game, we had some very good moments a few days ago in the Champions League against Sporting. "We are playing so many games, we are the only team that is playing and playing and playing, that's a difference as well. "But the positive is that today we have seen the level and there are five games to go. We are going to give it a real go. " On effect of losing this match: "We have full belief that we can do it. Today we showed again the team that we are. It's in our hands and it's there for the taking. " Manchester City 2-1 Arsenal Manchester City Manchester City captain Bernardo Silva speaking to Sky Sports: "Very big because it puts us in a position if we win our game in hand we're on the same points. Two weeks ago this didn't look very likely, this scenario. I'm happy we can be on the same points. " On Erling Haaland: "Erling was fantastic today fighting for every ball. It's not easy against two tough centre-backs. Today he fought like an animal. " On two top teams playing each other: "We were very good until we made the mistake and it changed the mood after the 30th minute. Second half was tough because it looked like we were in control of the game bt always felt they were v dang. two big chances in a rown. These big games are like this. Small details make the difference. But overall we played a good game. I'm really proud. " On whether it feels like City's name will be on the trophy: "It's a long season. A lot of small details didn't go our way this season. Also unlucky plays, we missed a lot of chances. A lot of games we should have won. Today things went our way. I'm really happy. " Click 'Get Involved' to have your say As an Arsenal fan, I said that whoever won the League Cup final would win the premier league. I now can’t see Man City not winning the treble. Arteta has to go, he has done lots for the club but we needed to win a trophy and that won’t happen. Guy, Nottingham Manchester City 2-1 Arsenal Arsenal Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live: "The biggest disappointment is that we did a lot of good things during the game. They created some individual moments and we created the biggest chances of the game but we didn't score. There was an element of luck and hitting the post was unfortunate. It has to go your way and it didn't today. We lost an opportunity in terms of the result. They have a game in hand, we have three points. Game on because it is a new Premier League. " On whether the game marked a shift in momentum: "I didn't see a difference in momentum between them and us today and that's the biggest thing. You can talk about momentum but after you have to show it on the pitch and I didn't see it on the pitch. " Click 'Get Involved' to have your say City have a tougher run of games, against teams who still have something to play for. Even if it goes to goal difference, Arsenal are playing teams that they can beat AND score goals against. Its far from over. Ian, Essex Manchester City 2-1 Arsenal Manchester City Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola speaking to BBC Match of the Day on the title race: "Yeah of course. Yeah. Still we hope. But the truth is that we had a horrible calendar and we are not top of the league. So far they are the best team in England but we extend the chance to fight until the end. " On best bit of today's performance: "That we won against that team. So competitive, so incredible. We had momentum, they had momentum, today we go away with three. " On whether City have better momentum than Arsenal now: "I don't know, I didn't think Arsenal were in bad momentum. In the Carabao Cup we were better. Today we were really good. They came here after the defeat with hunger and we won. They are are so competitive, we know that. But at the same time, we are too. "The table speaks for itself. They have been the best. Congratulations to the guys, but don't lose the focus. Wednesday is our game in hand and we can be there if we win. That's what we have to do. Doing it will be so difficult because Everton or Brentford, or Aston Villa, Crystal Palace. The games that we have. Bournemouth away. Last week they won in Emirates and Newcastle. It will be more difficult. " And for those of you that want to get involved without texting in, we have a poll running at the top of this page for you to have your say. Plain and simply put, who will win the title race after Sunday's game? Pep Guardiola's Manchester City or Mikel Arteta's Arsenal? We'll reveal the results of the poll at the end of today's live page. Click 'Get Involved' to have your say We'll get thoughts from the Arsenal and Manchester City camp next plus views from pundits galore on where Sunday's result leaves the title race. But the thoughts we want to hear the most are those of yours this morning. Do you believe City are firmly in the driving seat now? Or are you still in the camp that it's Arsenal's to lose? Will it prove pivotal or are there other fixtures on the horizon that will prove to be the decisive ones? Click the 'Get Involved' button on this page and have your say. Manchester City 2-1 Arsenal Arsenal's gap at the top of the table has been cut to three points following the defeat by Manchester City and could be completely wiped out should City beat Championship-bound Burnley on Wednesday evening. As recent as last month, the Gunners' lead at the top of the Premier League was nine points. Has the tide now fully turned in the favour of City? Manchester City 2-1 Arsenal Alex Howell BBC Sport Arsenal reporter Arsenal's nerve has been questioned in recent weeks, especially after the shock home defeat by Bournemouth, so this was a huge test for Mikel Arteta's side. Therefore the pain will arguably be more acute after they matched this menacing, in-form Man City side all the way but went down to a defeat that could yet define their Premier League season. Arsenal were competitive throughout and were chasing an equaliser until the end of seven minutes of nerve-shredding added time, the big chances wasted when Kai Havertz headed over with the goal at his mercy seconds from the end. Arsenal did not play like a side whose nerve had failed them, but this may yet prove to be an immensely damaging defeat, although Arteta - a frantic touchline presence throughout - will be satisfied with the performances. It is results, though, not performances that matter at this stage of the season, and this was one Arsenal may live to regret as they had enough opportunities to make the outcome different. Manchester City 2-1 Arsenal Shamoon Hafez BBC Sport Man City reporter City secured the victory that maintains their growing momentum and applied further pressure on Arsenal through the familiar route of a Haaland winner. This was a triumph, however, in which City had to demonstrate all their qualities before wild celebrations greeted the final whistle and three priceless points. Cherki's goal was the result of a touch of genius and sleight of foot to bamboozle Arsenal's Gabriel and Piero Hincapie before sliding in a perfect finish. After Donnarumma's error swiftly gifted Arsenal a way back into the game, City had to dig deep to show reserves of resilience before Haaland was once more the match-winner. City rode their luck in moments, but they are once more looking like an unstoppable force as they move to the shoulders of Arsenal, who have controlled the title race for so long. At the heart of it all was Bernardo Silva, who has announced he is leaving City at the end of this season, probing in his usual fashion but also showing his fierce competitive streak as he raced back 50 yards as the last man to halt a dangerous Arsenal attack. He was rewarded with a bearhug from manager Pep Guardiola after the final whistle as he pointed to the Portuguese and urged City's fans to join him in praise. The celebrations that swept around Etihad Stadium at the end reflected the growing sense that City are poised to strike, with a game in hand at doomed Burnley to come. Click 'Get Involved' to have your say Football is all about stories. By this stage of the season many fans don’t have much to follow at their own clubs and want a dramatic title race and relegation battle. Arsenal v City and Spurs v West Ham gives us all a popcorn-munching end to the season! Colin, Kent Manchester City 2-1 Arsenal Visual recap, you say? Our pleasure. You can watch highlights of yesterday's breathless game at the Etihad Stadium below. Grab your early morning brew and enjoy. This video can not be played Premier League highlights: Manchester City 2-1 Arsenal Manchester City 2-1 Arsenal Manchester City closed in ominously on Premier League leaders Arsenal with victory in a thrilling encounter at Etihad Stadium. Erling Haaland's second-half strike proved decisive on an afternoon of gripping tension to leave City only three points behind Arsenal with a game in hand. In a game where both sides created big opportunities, Rayan Cherki, who had already hit a post, showed supreme footwork and skill in a tight penalty area to put City ahead. Arsenal equalised only 107 seconds later when City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma hesitated before striking a panic-stricken clearance in off the incoming Kai Havertz. Haaland struck a post for City after the break, while Eberechi Eze did likewise and Donnarumma saved crucially from Havertz before Haaland swooped in trademark fashion from close range to put Pep Guardiola's side back in front. Defender Gabriel saw a header deflected on to a post as Arsenal tried to respond, with Havertz missing a glorious headed chance before City closed out a win as they continue to reel in the Gunners. What a game of football that was on Sunday, eh? And one that could prove oh so important come the end of May. Manchester City take their biggest swing yet at Premier League leaders Arsenal with just a handful of games remaining of the 2025-26 campaign. But will it prove to be the knockout blow? We'll discuss all of that and much more as we go this morning but let's kick things off with a recap of how it all unfolded. Manchester City 2-1 Arsenal Last Updated 20th April 2026 at 03: 46 Please Note: All times UK. Tables are subject to change. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made. Copyright © 2026 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.