Man City Cuts Title Gap

Manchester City beat Arsenal 2-1 on Sunday, trimming Arsenal’s Premier League lead to three points with five rounds left. (apnews.com) The official Premier League table now shows Arsenal on 70 points from 32 matches and City on 67 from 31. City still have a game in hand, away to Burnley on Wednesday, April 22. (premierleague.com) Rayan Cherki and Erling Haaland scored for Pep Guardiola’s side at the Etihad Stadium on April 19. Arsenal’s defeat was their second straight league loss after a 2-1 home setback against Bournemouth in Matchweek 32. (premierleague.com) The arithmetic changed fast. If City beat Burnley, they will draw level on points with Arsenal while having played the same 32 matches, and the title race would then hinge on the final weeks and potentially goal difference. (premierleague.com) Arsenal still sit first, but their margin is down from six points before this weekend’s head-to-head. The Premier League had billed the Etihad meeting as a showdown between first and second place, and it now looks like the pivot point of the run-in. (premierleague.com) The remaining schedules are tight for both clubs. Arsenal’s league run-in is Newcastle, Fulham, West Ham, Burnley and Crystal Palace; City’s is Burnley, Everton, Brentford, Bournemouth and Aston Villa. (premierleague.com) Other competitions also crowd the calendar. Arsenal have Champions League semi-finals against Atletico Madrid on April 29 and May 5, while City are due to face Southampton in the Football Association Cup semi-final on April 25. (premierleague.com) City’s fixture list shows league dates after Burnley at Everton on May 4, at home to Brentford on May 9, away to Bournemouth on May 17 and at home to Aston Villa on May 24. A home match with Crystal Palace is also listed as postponed. (premierleague.com) The result did not settle the title on April 19. It turned a six-point chase into a race in which City can pull level three days later. (premierleague.com)