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Erling Haaland scored the winner as Manchester City beat Arsenal on Sunday to blow the Premier League title race wide open.
Erling Haaland had an eventful Sunday afternoon with the Manchester City striker scoring the winning goal to reignite his side's Premier League title charge, enduring a running battle with Arsenal centre back Gabriel, and seeing half his undershirt ripped off in a challenge with the Brazilian.
But at the final whistle Haaland, who walked around the Etihad pitch taking in the adulation of the supporters with a wide smile and no shirt, and City had come out on top.
The 2-1 win over Arsenal, thanks to Haaland's second-half winner after Gianluigi Donnarumma's error had allowed Kai Havertz to immediately cancel out Rayan Cherki's sublime opener, means the Blues will go top of the Premier League table if they beat Burnley at Turf Moor on Wednesday.
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City now have the momentum heading into the final month of the campaign but they are still second and even a win over the Clarets will only see them top on either goal difference or goals scored. Haaland himself knows the victory was crucial but not decisive. Here's every word the City man said after the game.
How are you feeling about the rest of the season after that win?
"I feel good. To be honest, it’s been a few good weeks, ever since the internationals. I feel good, the team feels good. You know how I feel; look how happy we were after the game."
How aware are you of the narrative of Arsenal falling apart at the wrong time?
"Honestly, what we have to do is focus on ourselves. We cannot think too much about Arsenal. Of course you watch the game against Bournemouth. The whole of England watched this game. We know exactly the situation. We’re still second, we play on Wednesday.
"We’re calm. There are a few of us who have been in this situation before. A few new, a lot of new. It’s about staying calm and thinking about what you can do."
What was said after West Ham that has prompted the turnaround?
"After West Ham, everybody wrote that it was over. That was the feeling. It’s boring but you have to focus game by game. Enjoy this but tomorrow you need to start thinking about Bournemouth (Burnley). That’s the reality of this club in this title race, because the last weeks is when things get decided."
How do you feel after the break you had with the national team?
"The break in the national team was good. I’m really happy the national team helped me and said, 'you know what, relax,' after playing 50 games this season. And to get ready for the most important two months of your career with the World Cup as well. I’m happy they let me relax and fix my body a little bit and then come back to attack.
Are you covered in scratches, bruises and cuts after that grappling match with Gabriel?
"I think my shirt got a bit pulled! I didn’t get the foul, this is the Premier League nowadays. It’s wrestling here and there. A lot of duels. A lot of scratches. Sometimes my missus is not so happy about this, it looks a bit wrong! But that’s the reality."
If you go down in that head-to-head with Gabriel, does he get sent off?
"I think that is a red card, most of you agree with me on this. If I go down, it’s a red card. I would never do this. My father taught me this – stay on your feet and don’t be a… it starts with P. That’s the reality. Maybe yes, I should have gone down, maybe it would be easier, but I didn’t and I got a yellow card for it."
Are you in Arsenal's heads now?
"I don’t know. You need to ask them. The last seasons they’ve come up short. For now they are first and they are still there, they’ve been the best team of the season. I don’t want to speak too much about them because they are an amazing team and we should focus on ourselves."
Do you have to start thinking about goal difference when you play?
"You can’t think about this. It’s Burnley. You cannot go into a game thinking you have to win by three, four or five."
As a senior player what can you do to help the young players?
"Of course. It’s like when I came to the club, I learned a lot from the old players like John and Ederson, Riyad, the way they behaved when it came to a decisive moment. You need to stay calm and focus on what you can do. Stay calm, not think too much – which is the most difficult thing, because it gets heated at times and before the Arsenal game there was a lot of talk. It’s staying calm and try to think about the next task."
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