TOPS
The Sky Blues playing master has demonstrated a full range of his qualities. A goal very early in the game (7th minute), an assist (45th 1) to allow John Stones to double the lead. Before offering himself a double at the start of the second period to definitively bend the debates (54th). Cleverly, he quickly understood that the Arsenal defense was concentrated on Erling Haaland leaving spaces around him, spaces in which De Bruyne knew how to engulf himself, in particular in the image of the opener.
“Good things come to those who wait for.” The Norwegian striker struggled to score his 49th goal in all competitions this season, but he did it well. Defeated for a long time by Aaron Ramsdale who did everything to prevent Arsenal from taking at least six or seven, especially in the first half on four occasions, deliverance came in the 95th minute, on the gong. Enough to score his 33rd goal of the season in the Premier League … in 29 matches. But the strength of Haaland is not only to score goals, it is also to blend into a collective to bring out the best. Usually, De Bruyne is a passer and Haaland a scorer. This time it was the opposite, twice he turned into a decisive passer, twice for the Belgian.
This situation, we have the impression of knowing it and in the end, we all suspected it a little. After their victory, City took an option on the title because with two games less than Arsenal, Guardiola’s men can find themselves at the top in a few weeks. This season, they won the two direct confrontations with the Gunners, winning 3-1 in the first leg and 4-1 on Wednesday evening. It is now seven straight league wins for them and ten matches unbeaten in England (nine wins and a draw). The closer we get to the goal, the title, the more Manchester City seems unstoppable. A trend confirmed once again at the end of the 33rd day.
FLOPS
We did not see on the field a team that was fighting for the title this Wednesday evening. The team in control throughout this season has transformed into a practically nondescript team, helpless against the onslaught of Manchester City. City players feasted in the middle of a totally permeable defense. In the game, we did not feel a team led by a coach who has so often proved his greatness. Arteta’s players didn’t give the impression that the Gunners score was prepared in the best possible way. The madness of the season gave way to a stereotypical game made of vertical passes between defenders and midfielders, without ever putting the Skyblues rearguard in difficulty.
They represented their team very well during the game. Powerless, out of ammunition, overwhelmed… Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka simply weren’t up to the task. Far from those we liked to see evolve during the first 32 days of the championship, Martinelli and Jesus did not create any chances and did not shoot once on goal between them. Only Saka had the opportunity to strike on goal, once on a completely missed direct free kick in the 80th minute. Proof that they completely missed it, it was central defender Rob Holding who scored Arsenal’s only goal, when the three were no longer on the pitch.
And now Arsenal, won by the challenge, leaves the cards in the hands of City to afford the chance to lift a third consecutive title of champion of England. Those same cards Arsenal held them in their hands for a long time, but the form of the moment was not on their side. From now on, Arsenal, which had not lost in the league since February 15 (against City already in the first leg 1-3), becomes a team which has not won in the Premier League for four games. After dictating the law all season, Arsenal is collapsing at the foot of the summit, a mountain they have been trying to climb for months, before perhaps plummeting in the coming weeks if Manchester City confirms.
