Although Manchester City started Wednesday night five points behind Arsenal in the race for this season’s Premier League title, the clinching of the crown was still in their hands. Win their game in hand with Crystal Palace and also beat the Gunners next month and it is very much game on for Pep Guardiola’s men.
By the end of Wednesday night it felt like game off for the Etihad outfit. Their hosting of Nottingham Forest not going to plan, City’s bid to reel in the league leaders now up in smoke as a five-point gap to the top has now been extended to seven.
With Arsenal scoring early at Brighton that same evening, there was a sense of additional pressure now circling around the blue half of Manchester. Even within the live game state of the Premier League table, it was another huge boost for Mikel Arteta’s side.
Then again, it must also be noted that Antoine Semenyo has been a huge boost for City since his January arrival from Bournemouth. Looking like the kind of player who has played within a Guardiola system for years rather than months. Apparent when opening the scoring against Forest.
His seventh in a two-month spell, Semenyo making a strong case to be one of the signings of the season and with his goal taking City into the break with a narrow lead - while also returning the live points gap to five, it would be hard to argue against it.
TOP AND BOTTOM
However, that same narrow lead gave Forest hope of getting themselves back into the game. Never underestimate a team that is fighting for their lives towards the bottom. Arguably the kind of team you really do not want to face at this stage of the season.
Vitor Pereira still searching for a first league win since taking the reins at the City Ground but having plenty of celebrating to do by the time Morgan Gibbs-White restored parity 11 minutes after the interval.
The attacking midfielder’s neat flick got the better of Gianluigi Donnarumma. Undoubtedly against the run of play, no doubts that he and his Forest teammates were unconcerned as to whether the goal was deserved or not.
City on the ropes, they needed to find an answer to keep the title bid within their hands and just six minutes later, it looked as if they had found it. Rodri’s role in central midfielder has been marginalised these past couple of seasons, his contribution vital in putting the hosts ahead again.
The Spanish international heading home from a corner and although it looked as if City could not eat into Arsenal’s points buffer due to their success on the South Coast, Rodri’s head looked to at least have maintained it at five points.
That was until a final twist in Wednesday’s title tale. 15 minutes plus whatever added left on the clock, the perfect time for Eliott Anderson to curl home a sumptuous finish from 25 yards. Delirium in the Etihad away end. Jubilation in the red half of North London as Arsenal move closer to the title.
