The Digest:
Manchester City moved to within two points of Premier League leaders Arsenal after a hard-fought 1-0 victory at Leeds United, snapping the hosts' 25-match unbeaten run in evening games at Elland Road. With Erling Haaland sidelined by a minor injury, Antoine Semenyo stepped up to score the decisive goal in first-half stoppage time, tapping in from Rayan Ait-Nouri's low cross after a sublime assist from Rayan Cherki. Leeds had dominated the early exchanges, with Dominic Calvert-Lewin missing a golden chance inside three minutes and Gianluigi Donnarumma denying Brenden Aaronson. City survived a late scare when Jaka Bijol nodded narrowly wide from a corner, securing three precious points in the title race. The win tightens the gap at the top, putting pressure on Arsenal ahead of their Sunday clash with Chelsea.
Key Points
- Semenyo's sixth goal of the season demonstrates City's attacking depth in Haaland's absence.
- Cherki's creative brilliance in a free role unlocked the Leeds defense, proving his growing importance.
- The victory extends City's momentum and intensifies the Premier League title race with Arsenal now just two points ahead.
- Leeds' broken home record highlights the challenge of maintaining consistency against elite opposition.
- City's ability to grind out results in difficult away fixtures reinforces their championship pedigree.
Without their superstar striker, Manchester City found heroes in Semenyo and Cherki to secure a statement victory, tightening the title race and sending a clear message to league leaders Arsenal.
Sources: Match Report, Player Ratings, BBC Sports
