Manchester City Tighten Grip on Premier League Crown as Arsenal StumbleManchester City Tighten Grip on Premier League Crown as Arsenal Stumble Manchester City took a significant step towards the Premier League title on Saturday as their rivals Arsenal stumbled at Goodison Park. The Citizens claimed a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Bournemouth, while the Gunners suffered a shock 1-0 defeat to Everton. City’s victory at the Vitality Stadium was their third consecutive clean sheet and extended their unbeaten run to 17 games in all competitions. Erling Haaland scored the only goal of the game in the 27th minute, nodding home from close range after a neat lay-off from Ilkay Gundogan. Meanwhile, Arsenal’s trip to Merseyside was a forgettable affair. Sean Dyche’s resurgent Everton side defended resolutely and grabbed a crucial goal from James Tarkowski in the second half. The result ended Arsenal’s five-match winning streak and saw them drop two vital points. With Arsenal’s slip-up, Manchester City now hold a five-point lead at the top of the table. The Citizens have a game in hand, meaning they could extend their advantage to eight points by defeating Newcastle United on Tuesday. Arsenal’s defeat was also a blow to their ambitions of winning a first Premier League title since 2004. Mikel Arteta’s side now face an uphill battle to catch Manchester City, who are looking increasingly dominant in the race for the trophy. Manchester City’s victory was also a boost for manager Pep Guardiola, who has been under some pressure in recent weeks. The Catalan coach has faced criticism for City’s indifferent form in Europe, but the team’s performances in the Premier League have been highly impressive. With 15 games remaining in the season, Manchester City are now firm favorites to retain their league title. Arsenal remain in contention, but they will need to produce a remarkable run of form to overhaul their rivals.
