The banner at the Etihad read "Panic on the streets of London" as the final whistle blew, a dramatic statement that summed up the atmosphere after Manchester City’s victory. While Erling Haaland, his hair loose, celebrated by belting out Flo Rida’s line "Oh, sometimes I get a good feeling," the scene was a reminder of the many anthems that have become part of football’s soundtrack.
Arsenal have spent an astonishing 201 consecutive days perched atop the Premier League table, a run that has made their supporters feel almost invincible. Yet on Wednesday night they faced a City side that was chasing its seventh win in a row and could snatch the summit away at the very last moment.
The stakes could not have been higher. The narrative mirrors a familiar chapter from three seasons ago. In the 2022‑23 campaign, Arteta’s men led the league for 247 days before City, powered by a determined Haaland, overturned the standings in the final weeks.
Back then Haaland’s hair was also down, and his goal in April secured a crucial win for City over Arsenal. The title race was still alive, but the balance of power had shifted ominously.
History appears to be repeating itself, but the feeling surrounding Arsenal this time is oddly different. The disappointment of not taking the three points is tempered by the quality of their performance.
Unlike the 4‑1 drubbing they suffered three seasons earlier, this encounter was competitive, defying pre‑match expectations and the gloomy forecasts of pundits. Arsenal did not look out of sorts at the Etihad. In fact, the number of truly outstanding displays they have managed since Christmas could be counted on one hand.
The prevailing expectation was that the Gunners would sit deep, defend resolutely, and try to absorb City’s pressure. Instead, they chose a proactive approach, employing a high‑press strategy that aimed to disrupt Guardiola’s rhythm. The press was orchestrated by returning captain Martin Ødegaard, whose composure on and off the ball suggested he had never been absent, even though this was only his third start in three months.
Ødegaard’s leadership sparked a collective effort that saw Arsenal win the ball back in the final third five times within the first 25 minutes. One of those recoveries led directly to Kai Havertz’s equaliser, capitalising on a mis‑touch by goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma. "The high press was really good," Ødegaard told Sky Sports at full‑time.
"It felt like we were looking to regain the ball and look dangerous." His words captured the shift in mentality – a willingness to chase, to win the ball high up the pitch, and to threaten the opposition in their own half. Havertz’s movement at the top of the field, combined with noticeable improvements from Declan Rice and Martin Zubimendi in midfield, gave Arsenal a more potent attacking shape. After a spell of lacklustre displays, the team finally displayed cohesion in the final third.
Their expected‑goals tally of 1.53 was the highest City had allowed in a league match for ten days, underscoring how dangerous they had become. The second half continued to be a nail‑biter. Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli each missed clear one‑on‑one chances in quick succession, while Eberechi Eze’s effort rattled the post, putting City back in contention.
Four minutes later, Haaland struck, delivering a decisive blow that left Arsenal’s hopes hanging by a thread. Had Havertz converted his late‑stage opportunity, the result would have been hailed as a triumph for the Gunners. As Arteta reflected, "We were close, not close enough." When the final whistle sounded, a deflated Declan Rice could be heard muttering, "It’s not done," to himself.
The title race still feels precarious, but it is far from over. Arteta remained optimistic: "We have full belief we can do it. Today we have shown the team that we are. It’s still in our hands, and it’s there for the taking." Guardiola, too, acknowledged the shifting dynamics.
"Momentum changes," he told Sky Sports. "People said to me that the momentum from Arsenal is bad.
What I saw today wasn’t a bad momentum. Momentum shifts in one instance." So how can Arsenal turn this uneasy feeling into a springboard for the title?
Both clubs now hold their fate in their own hands. If each side wins all of their remaining fixtures, the championship could be decided on goal difference or total goals scored. City currently boast two of the three leading scorers in the Golden Boot race, giving them a statistical edge, but Arsenal must discover a reliable goal‑scoring outlet akin to Haaland or Antoine Semenyo.
There were promising signs of attacking freedom at the Etihad. Ødegaard reminded everyone why he is the captain and the creative engine of the side.
This was only his fourth start alongside Eze, and the first time either player had lasted beyond half‑time in those particular matchups. Both seemed more at ease, and Ødegaard admitted, "I felt okay in the game, a bit tired at the end. Good to be back and hopefully I can be there until the end." The lesson is clear: when your best players are fit and available during the season’s decisive phase, your chances of success rise dramatically.
Should Bukayo Saka return from injury soon, Arsenal could field a lethal trio of Saka, Ødegaard and Havertz for the first time since December 2024, when they thrashed Crystal Palace 5‑1 away. That combination would give the Gunners another gear to shift into. Arsenal must also remember that City are not invincible.
Their upcoming schedule includes tough trips to Everton and Bournemouth, while Arsenal face a struggling Fulham side and a Burnley team already destined for relegation. If the Gunners can capitalise on those fixtures, they could accumulate more points than City and keep the title race alive. The strange feeling that has settled over Arsenal is a mixture of disappointment and cautious optimism. If they can replicate the intensity, pressing shape, and attacking intent displayed at the Etihad for the remainder of the campaign, the prospect of securing two pieces of silverware becomes realistic.
Arteta summed up the mood in the dressing room: "They are now more convinced. They were talking about it in the dressing room.
It’s a new league now. Everything is still to play for. We know how much we want it and we are not going to stop." Both title rivals possess strengths and weaknesses.
By Wednesday night both clubs could be level on points, each with the same number of games left. A City win paired with an Arsenal loss would be a headline moment, but it would also underline how closely matched the two sides have become.
The race – or as many now call it, a shoot‑out – is undeniably on.