Manchester City moved within three points of Arsenal as they produced one of the close football results of the weekend in the Premier League. Pep Guardiola’s team raced into a three-goal first-half lead through Rodri (4), Ilkay Gundogan (39) and a Riyad Mahrez penalty (45+1), capping off a chaotic week in which City was slammed with 101 allegations of alleged rule-breaking by the Premier League. However, Haaland, who has scored 25 Premier League goals this season and set up City’s second, had to be substituted at halftime due to what appeared to be a thigh injury, making it uncertain whether he will travel to Arsenal on Wednesday. Ollie Watkins then scored to bring one back for Villa (61). With the visitors improving after the break after being completely outplayed in the opening half, Unai Emery’s team avoided a crushing defeat thanks to that goal, but the damage had already been done.
Guardiola had taken a strong stance on the criticisms thrown at City in the weeks leading up to the game, and there was a clear intention to make a point on the field as well as off it as fans booed the Premier League song before kickoff. Rodri thumped the badge on his chest in celebration of his opening goal, which he drove in at the near post from Mahrez’s corner, and the Spaniard nearly created a second with a ball that released Gundogan but saw his shot well saved.
Calum Chambers endured a testing opening 45 minutes of his first Premier League start since August as City kept Villa at bay. The hosts also had a string of opportunities, with Jack Grealish coming dangerously close twice before Gundogan added the insurance goal. Haaland entered the match without having attempted a shot against Tottenham, but he gave Villa difficulties and was responsible for the second goal. After a bad Chambers header, he pounced on a loose ball and found Gundogan at the far post.
At that time, City was in complete control. The third goal was scored when Mahrez beat Martinez after Grealish, keen to make a good impression against his former team, won a penalty kickoff of Jacob Ramsey. Haaland had at this time apparently had a thigh issue, since Ruben Dias withdrew when Julian Alvarez and Manuel Akanji entered the fight, and Haaland did not return for the second session.
When Rodri’s low effort was superbly saved by Emiliano Martinez, it seemed like City was resuming up where they left off. However, after that, defensive sloppiness crept into their performance as Emery’s replacements spurred some improvement from the visitors. When Bernardo Silva, playing in a strange midfield/left-back position, lost control of the ball in his own half, Douglas Luiz was able to unleash Watkins, who finished coolly.
However, Villa remained dangerous at the other end, with Jhon Duran smashing a shot against Ederson’s bar and another substitution, Philippe Coutinho, also posing a threat. Ezri Konsa made a goalline stop for Julian Alvarez, and Mahrez scooped another great chance over the post. This was not nearly the City declaration of intent that it appeared it may be at halftime due to the defensive shakiness. And Haaland’s ailment is a concern. However, the win was much-needed after the 1-0 setback to Tottenham, and it provides the reigning champions a chance to reclaim a first place on Wednesday.
“We did a great job playing the game. The second half was when we played better. In the Premier League, it’s always open once a goal is conceded at 3-1, but overall, I thought we were going to score more,” Manchester City head coach Pep Guardiola said. “As in the past, when we could have placed pressure on them but failed, we were there to shorten the distance when they finally dropped. When they lost points, we failed; but, today we succeeded.”
“We had a great deal of competitiveness on the road [in our previous games], but today we knew it would be a difficult game, and it was like that,” Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery said. “We didn’t play well in the first half. Although they were equally clinical, today’s blunders belonged to them. In other games, we could have prevented three of those goals. We attempted to maintain our composure on the field, ignore the outcome, and resume competition in the second half, and I believe we succeeded. But they outperformed us in the first half. Without making a mistake, they chose the match.”
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