Arsenal have lost their grip on the Premier League title race. The image of this game was not the goal of the season scored by Rayan Cherki – in arguably the contest of the season – and it was not the terrible mistake made by Gianluigi Donnarumma to hand the visitors an equalising goal.
Instead, it was Gabriel Magalhães so desperately pulling at Erling Haaland that he ripped the Manchester City striker’s base-layer, the garment under his shirt, in two.
It slipped from Gabriel and Arsenal’s grasp and felt symbolic of this title race. They are still three points ahead, having played a game more, and with a marginally better goal difference. But this felt huge. This felt defining. This felt like the moment that confirmed City will be champions again. And Haaland did it.
And his response to Gabriel? It was to laugh, having scored the deserved winning goal a few minutes earlier. He and City bullied Arsenal, who have for so long been the physically dominant team of the season.
Later, Gabriel would square up to Haaland and somehow escape a red card after motioning to headbutt the striker. Instead, both players were cautioned and on the touchline, Pep Guardiola went crazy. Had Haaland gone down, it would certainly have been a sending off. It should have been one anyway.
"He's very lucky"Should Gabriel have seen red? 🟥 pic.twitter.com/pDjN7OfvFB
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 19, 2026
What a game. Both sides hit the woodwork twice and Arsenal, in fairness, went for it in a way they did not in their recent defeat by City in the Carabao Cup final and as their form has deteriorated in recent weeks.
But City undoubtedly deserved to win and played the far more attacking, expansive football. In fact, football was the winner.
It was tense, it was frantic and there were two minutes of madness in the first-half which led to goals. First, Cherki showed brilliant close control, dribbling the ball with his left foot, which took him past Gabriel then away from Declan Rice before side-footing low with his right through the legs of William Saliba. What a goal. It was Lionel Messi-esque.
Rayan Cherki doing his thing 🤷♂️ pic.twitter.com/VsOlkpjcnu
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 19, 2026
As the celebrations continued, though, Donnarumma made a mess of a throw-in with a terrible heavy touch. Kai Havertz closed him down and the attempted clearance rebounded off the striker and into the net.
It was Havertz’s first league goal for 441 days – since he last scored against City. But it was also from the sublime to the ridiculous.
"WOAHHHHH!!" 🤯Kai Havertz pulls Arsenal level in chaotic fashion! pic.twitter.com/A4ZjjDF921
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 19, 2026
Donnarumma went some way to redeeming himself with a terrific double save in the second half before the outstanding Nico O’Reilly combined with Jeremy Doku with his cross intended for Rodri, only to run to Haaland, who finished unerringly.
"Manchester City in charge, again!"Erling Haaland powers through to find the back of the net 💪 pic.twitter.com/tt04wbQnaz
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 19, 2026
There were seven minutes of injury time and deep into them, there was one last chance for Arsenal – only for Havertz to head narrowly over.