Defending champions Manchester City are back at the top of the table in the English Premier League, also thanks to star striker Erling Haaland. Pep Guardiola’s team won the heated top game at Arsenal 3-1 (1-1) and thus overtook the Gunners, who were tied on points. Former Bundesliga player Kevin De Bruyne (24th), Jack Grealish (72nd) and just Haaland (82nd) scored for City, Bukayo Saka (42nd, penalty kick) had equalized in the meantime.
Manchester are top of the table for the first time since the beginning of November thanks to their better goal difference, although Arsenal have played a game less. “We haven’t had the best season so far, but we’re still at the top of the league. That shows our incredible potential and the character we have,” said Haaland: “That’s what champions have to do.” A month ago, Arsenal were still eight points ahead of City, but the traditional club has recently been weakening – national players Ilkay Gündogan, Haaland and Co. of course wanted to take advantage of that.
Arsenal put up a good fight in an intense game, but the visitors increased the pressure as the game progressed and earned an enormously important victory in the title fight. City have been champions four times in the last five years, Arsenal have been waiting for the title since 2004 and conceded the eleventh league defeat against City in a row.