(Football news) In a battle for Premier League supremacy, defending champions Manchester City emerged victors with a 3-1 win over Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium. The Gunners hadn’t lost a single match at home heading into this fixture but knew that a tough challenge awaits as Pep Guardiola’s side took the lead through Kevin de Bruyne in the 24th minute. Arsenal managed to score the equaliser in the 42nd minute when Bukayo Saka converted from the spot but goals from Jack Grealish (72) and Erling Haaland (82) ensured all three points went to City.

Mikel Arteta’s side weren’t in the best form ahead of this fixture, losing 1-0 to relegation-threatened Everton and drawing 1-1 against Brentford, which meant that a victory against City was not just crucial from a points perspective but also for the team’s morale. Arsenal were without midfielder Thomas Partey due to a muscular injury which meant that new signing Jorginho made his first Arsenal start while Takehiro Tomiyasu was picked over Ben White at right back. As for City, Erling Haaland and Reuben Dias were fit enough to feature in the starting lineup.

Speaking in the post match press conference, Mikel Arteta said “It’s exceptionally difficult to play at the level they require you to play to have the chance to win and I think we’ve done it. In many moments, we had them. But if you give three goals away the way we did, and just give them the game, and especially when you don’t put big chances away, then the margin for error with them is almost zero. It’s a shame because we really had them.”

On Arsenal’s next steps following the defeat, he added: “Just move on. Realise why we lost the game. And I think we lost it. And we have to move on because the performance was there in many situations. For our team to play at the level that we have to reach is very difficult and the boys did exceptionally well. The atmosphere was incredible and the shame is we didn’t get the points. In the end, the games are decided in the boxes. We have given too much away today and we weren’t ruthless enough to convert our chances. That’s what we have to improve.”

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said “In the first half we were soft, maybe my plan was not good. We allowed them to play but in the second half we made a step forward. We were more aggressive. That allowed us to regain balls high up the pitch where we feel comfortable. Haaland helped us a lot by being man-to-man and being aggressive. Playing long balls against Saliba and Gabriel is not easy but he used his body to win the balls. And that’s why we won the game.

“If they win the game in hand they are top of the league. What they have done is incredible and we are still there. This league will be decided for the last eight or 10 games. There are 15 to go. It is a lot and the Champions League is coming. Many games and tiring for the players. It is important that we are here because six points if we lose and maybe nine points hypothetically, it is not easy. Especially for the way we behave in the second half, with a lot of personality to do it.”

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