Man City win to move within two points of Arsenal

Manchester City blew the Premier League title race wide open by capitalising on leaders Arsenal’s defeat in comfortably dispatching Sunderland at Etihad Stadium.

Pep Guardiola’s side had seen the Gunners suffer a last-gasp loss against Aston Villa at lunchtime on Saturday and ensured there was no slip-up of their own by swatting aside the visitors to move to within two points of the top.

City initially found it difficult to make inroads against the Sunderland’s low block and were frustrated by a solid five-man backline.

Having kept the hosts at bay, the visitors saw the game snatched away in the space of four first-half minutes, courtesy of goals from City’s two centre-halves.

The Black Cats defenders sat back on Ruben Dias and it proved fatal as the Portugal international strode forward and unleashed a thunderous 30-yard strike, which took a deflection off Dan Ballard and swerved into the top corner.

The hosts doubled their advantage on 35 minutes when Josko Gvardiol leapt highest to power home an unstoppable header from Phil Foden’s inswinging corner and give the hosts a comfortable half-time cushion.

City sought to add to the scoreline in the second half and Jeremy Doku’s low curling effort struck the post, while Foden’s first-time follow-up was brilliantly blocked.

Erling Haaland’s hooked shot was cleared off the line by Lutsharel Geertruida, before Rayan Cherki provided a sublime assist for Foden to head in the third goal.

Chances were at a premium for Sunderland in the opening period, with Enzo le Fee shooting into side-netting, but they did have better opportunities in the second half.

City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma made a big save to deny Wilson Isidor after Dias’ mistake, while captain Granit Xhaka’s thumping low effort beat the Italy international but cannoned against the post.

Sunderland saw Luke O’Nien sent off in injury-time for a nasty, studs-high challenge on Matheus Nunes, with the yellow card upgraded to a red after referee Andy Madley reviewed the challenge on the pitchside monitor.

Will this day prove pivotal come May?

City took full advantage of Arsenal’s slip-up at Villa Park and are now within touching distance of the top.

The home side had little joy in the opening 30 minutes but Dias’ thunderbolt and Gvardiol’s header turned the game – and possibly the title race – in City’s favour.

Despite Sunderland’s excellent start on their return to the top flight, City were heavy favourites coming into this game and duly ensured there was no error made on their part.

They have now won their past seven matches against the Black Cats and stretched their imperious run over promoted sides to 25 victories in their past 27 such games, drawing the other two.

France international Cherki stood out for City with two assists, taking his tally to six for the campaign – the second of which was an audacious ‘rabona’ converted by Foden via the crossbar.

With the Englishman firing and Haaland the talisman up front, 22-year-old playmaker Cherki looks as if he may add an extra dimension in attack for City.

Regis le Bris’ side have been a revelation this season and despite the heavy defeat, still sit seventh in the table.

They came into this contest brimming with confidence, having lost just once in their past five games and picking up a thoroughly creditable point at champions Liverpool in midweek.

But conceding the two quick-fire goals in the first half killed off any prospect of a shock result at City, where they have never won in the Premier League in 14 attempts.

They will look back on the chance missed by Isidor at 2-0, shooting straight at Donnarumma from the centre of goal, while Xhaka’s strike, which hit the woodwork, showed the fine margins that cost them.