Premier League title race blown open as Arsenal bottle job worsens with loss to Manchester City

The Premier League might just have a new title favourite.

Manchester City swung the race for the championship in its favour by beating Arsenal 2-1 on Monday thanks to a second-half winner by Erling Haaland.

Haaland’s league-leading 23rd goal of the campaign in the 65th minute allowed City to trim the gap to Arsenal, the long-time front-runner, to three points. City has a game in hand at relegation-threatened Burnley on Thursday, after which Pep Guardiola’s team is likely to have overturned its goal-difference deficit to Arsenal and taken the lead with five rounds remaining.

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“Panic on the streets of London” read a banner held aloft behind one of the goals after the final whistle — a reference to a 1980s song by The Smiths and a nod to Arsenal's end-of-season implosion that has seen Mikel Arteta's team lose four of its last six games in all competitions, including two straight in the league.

This might be a familiar sinking feeling for Arsenal fans, who have seen their team finish as runner-up for the past three Premier League seasons.

“Two weeks ago, this didn’t look very likely, this scenario,” City captain Bernardo Silva said.

An often-frenetic match exploded into life when Rayan Cherki gave City a 16th-minute lead with a weaving run and finish, only for Arsenal to draw level in bizarre circumstances two minutes later after Gianluigi Donnarumma’s clearance was charged down by Kai Havertz and rebounded into the net from close range.

Haaland and Arsenal pair Eberechi Eze and Gabriel Magalhaes struck the goal frame, before Haaland slotted home a low shot from Nico O'Reilly's cross, dealing a huge blow to Arsenal's hopes of a first league championship since 2004.

City is expected to beat next-to-last Burnley, but has a tougher run-in than Arsenal that includes trips to Everton and Bournemouth and a final-day meeting with Aston Villa.

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“Every game is a final,” Haaland said.

Unlike City, which is unbeaten in 10 league games, Arsenal is struggling for form and also has to balance playing in the Champions League after reaching the semi finals.

"It's a new league now — everything is still to play for," Arteta said.

Arsenal's players are “more convinced” than ever that they can win the Premier League despite losing to title rival Manchester City, Arteta said.

The 2-1 defeat at Etihad Stadium was a second straight loss in the league for Arsenal and the fourth in its last six games in all competitions.

However, Arteta felt the nature of his team's performance bodes well for the future.

“I believe today, I believed on Wednesday, I believed a week ago,” Arteta said. "Because I see them every day and I know the level that we have.

“But today, if they need to be more convinced, I think 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.”

Manchester City midfielder Rodri sustained a groin injury in the win.

The Spain international came off in the 88th minute.

“We’ll make a test tonight,” Guardiola said.

Rodri has returned to his best form in recent weeks after regaining his full sharpness after ACL and groin injuries.

Rodri’s absence would be a blow to second-placed City’s title hopes.