Clearly not fazed by the threat of potential sanctions from the Premier League (PL) for alleged financial misconduct, Manchester City ramped up the pressure on Arsenal at the summit ahead of their showdown with the table-topping Gunners on Wednesday, thanks to a 3-1 victory over Aston Villa that marked their 13th successive home PL H2H win.
When City won the Premier League title in this very game back in May 2022, they got off to a nightmare start and found themselves 2-0 down in the season’s dying minutes.
City thought they’d doubled their advantage shortly after, but as Erling Haaland and Emiliano Martínez collided in a 50/50 and İlkay Gündoğan swept home the pieces, the Norwegian striker was adjudged to have fouled the Villa keeper.
The game was then over as a contest shortly before the break, when Jacob Ramsey’s clumsy challenge in the area on Jack Grealish allowed Mahrez to confidently fire home City’s third of the afternoon from the penalty spot.
City’s complacency came back to bite them though, as Bernardo Silva lost possession in midfield and one incisive Douglas Luiz pass freed Ollie Watkins, who made no mistake in firing past Ederson to score in a third successive PL game for the first time in his career.
As for Villa, they could still have a say in the title race, with Arsenal next up for them as they seek to solidify their spot in mid-table.
