City edge over the line thanks to Haaland with Arsenal piling on the pressure

Manchester City sat inside their dressing room at the City Ground in February of the Treble season, watching Arsenal. Huddled around Rico Lewis’ phone, they saw stoppage time drama, Mikel Arteta dancing down the Villa Park touchline after the late win in what felt a decisive blow in the title race.

Immediately up next and with the pressure on, City then battered Nottingham Forest but only drew 1-1. Chris Wood scored Forest’s sole chance, one of City’s own making. Locals set off fireworks next to the stadium in celebration. Pep Guardiola’s had better days.

Manchester City sat inside their dressing room at the City Ground on Sunday, five games to go, watching Arsenal. The victory at Tottenham had been shown on their coach and some continued studying it when they arrived before warming up.

The drama this time was Arsenal withstanding Spurs’ threat of a comeback. Arteta jubilantly jumped on his backroom staff in what felt a defiant moment in the title race.

Immediately up next and with the pressure on, City didn’t run all over Nottingham Forest like 14 months prior. Wood squandered two seemingly unmissable chances in what was, in parts, nip and tuck. But the champions edged over the line. Locals didn’t set off fireworks. City left with fortunes in their own hands.

Funny old beast, football. City – significantly better last year – left the east Midlands four victories from history and with consecutive Premier League clean sheets for only the second time since August. The away end sang about Jurgen Klopp ‘cracking up’ once Erling Haaland had settled the afternoon.

‘If you over-think you are going to be crazy in your head, so relax,’ Haaland said. And that is the City mantra at this stage of seasons. Watch the others by all means