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Premier League highlights: Manchester City 2-1 Arsenal
Chief football writer at Etihad StadiumPublished2 minutes agoCommentsMikel Arteta was doing the rounds consoling his devastated Arsenal players when a giant banner was unfurled in front of him at Etihad Stadium, emblazoned with the words: "Panic on the streets of London".
It dropped down from the stands seconds after Manchester City secured a thrilling 2-1 win against the Gunners that moves them to within three points of the long-time Premier League leaders, with a game in hand.
Arteta may not be familiar with the work and words of the great Manchester band The Smiths - but it was sending a brutal message to Arsenal and their manager that all their fine work so far this season is now in danger of falling away in this unforgiving test of nerve.
Arsenal still narrowly have the superior goal difference (+37 to +36), but with Manchester City's game in hand at doomed Burnley, this could all change.
Manchester City's win was by no means a decisive one in the title race, but it did not stop it feeling like a defining one.
For context, Arsenal still lead the Premier League and have just reached the semi-final of the Champions League for the second successive season.
And for long periods of an enthralling encounter, Arsenal matched Manchester City every inch of the way before Erling Haaland once again made a crucial contribution with the winner.
This was a resilient display to answer the allegations that Arsenal are "chokers" - but the bottom line is this was still a defeat that maintains Manchester City's momentum while increasing unease in north London.
If the home loss to Bournemouth resembled a failure of nerve, this defeat did not. Arsenal could easily have earned a crucial point and few would have questioned that outcome.
But they did not. And at this stage of the season this is all that matters.
Manchester City are in that ominously familiar position of coming from behind to wrestle control away from those in front of them, with Arsenal and Arteta feeling hot breath on their shoulders.
Arteta and his team must now fight familiar demons and scenarios to somehow end accusations that he and Arsenal might just be 'nearly men'.
Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, The message sent by Manchester City's fans to Arsenal after their vital victory at Etihad Stadium
As City close in, the prospect of Arteta's Arsenal finishing second in the Premier League for a fourth successive season is an increasingly painful possibility.
Arsenal still have the opportunity for glory this season, domestically and in Europe's biggest competition, but they have now reached the point where another campaign that fails to end a trophy drought stretching back to 2020 will leave serious questions about Arteta and his players.
The Gunners simply must win a trophy this season to deliver the answer. To let it slip and finish empty-handed would be cruel, but this is the environment they are operating in.
Arteta and Arsenal must dismiss the growing noise, the noise around them now and the noise that will accompany them if they fall short.
This is not to suggest questions should be asked about Arteta's future - absolutely not - and he could still win a Premier League and Champions League, but if it does not work out as he hopes, he must go back to the drawing board once more to find a way to win.