Manchester City beat Aston Villa 3-1 to move within three points of Arsenal but Erling Haaland had to be taken off with an apparent injury ahead of Wednesday’s showdown at the Emirates Stadium.
After a turbulent week in which City were hit with 101 charges of alleged rule-breaking from the Premier League, Pep Guardiola’s side roared into a three-goal first-half lead through Rodri (4), Ilkay Gundogan (39) and a Riyad Mahrez penalty (45+1).
But Haaland, scorer of 25 Premier League goals this season and creator of City’s second, had to be withdrawn at the break due to an apparent thigh injury, becoming a doubt for Wednesday’s trip to Arsenal, with Ollie Watkins then pulling a goal back for Villa (61).
That goal ensured Unai Emery’s side avoided a heavy defeat, the visitors improving after half-time having been totally dominated in the first period, but the damage was already done at that point, ensuring City capitalised on Arsenal’s failure to beat Brentford.
Guardiola’s side now head to the Emirates Stadium knowing victory would put them top of the Premier League table on goal difference, but whether they can call on Haaland remains to be seen.
Guardiola had struck a defiant tone on the charges levelled at City in the lead-up to the game, with supporters loudly booing the Premier League anthem before kick-off, and there was a clear determination to prove a point on the pitch as well as off it.
Rodri celebrated his opening goal, powered in at the near post from Mahrez’s corner, by thumping the badge on his chest and the Spaniard almost set up a second shortly afterwards, his pass releasing Gundogan, whose effort was well saved.
City continued to pin Villa back, with Calum Chambers subjected to a bruising first 45 minutes on his first Premier League start since August, and the hosts created a succession of other chances, Jack Grealish twice going close before Gundogan scored the second.
Haaland came into the game having failed to register a shot against Tottenham but he caused Villa problems and was the architect of the second, accelerating onto a loose ball after a poor Chambers header, then picking out Gundogan at the far post.
City were rampant at that point and the third goal came when Grealish, eager to impress against his former side, won a penalty off Jacob Ramsey, and, following some discussion about who would take it, Mahrez stepped up to beat Martinez.
By that point, Haaland appeared to have picked up a thigh problem and he did not emerge for the second period, with Ruben Dias also withdrawn as Julian Alvarez and Manuel Akanji joined the fray.
Sky Sports