The most memorable Premier League title race deciders of all time ahead of Man City-Arsenal | OneFootball

Manchester City and Arsenal face-off this weekend in a potential Premier League title decider.

Pep Guardiola has declared his side's challenge would be 'over' if City lose at the Etihad, though a win could put the title race in their own hands.

With the season's outcome on a knife-edge, we've looked back at some of the most memorablePremier League title race deciders of all time.

Newcastle United 0-1 Manchester United - 1996/97

Early March might feel too early to deem any game a title decider, but the narrative of the 1996/97 season makes this a fitting inclusion. Newcastle had raced into a seemingly unassailable lead in the title race, boasting a 12-point lead in late January.

The wheels started to fall off soon after, with the gap slashed to four points by the timeManchester United arrived at St James' Park in the spring. Newcastle knocked on the door during the opening exchanges, but an inspired Peter Schmeichel denied the hosts.

Then, Eric Cantona struck.

A 1-0 win for Manchester United shifted the momentum in their favour, and the champions held their nerve across the run-in. Kevin Keegan's famous 'I would love it!' rant became the soundtrack to Newcastle's collapse.

Manchester United 0-1 Arsenal - 1997/98

A year later, it was Manchester United being hunted down. Though the Red Devils boasted a 12-point lead of their own over Arsenal, the Gunners' games in hand made it somewhat a mirage of security.

Arsene Wenger's side got within striking distance as United wobbled against Sheffield Wednesday and West Ham, before a decisive blow.

Marc Overmars scored a golden goal for the Gunners, who had never previously scored a goal at Old Trafford in the Premier League era.

The Dutchman's winner moved Arsenal within six points of the leaders, with three games in hand, and kick-started a winning run that carried the North Londoners to the title.

Manchester United 0-1 Arsenal - 2001/02

Manchester United knew nothing but a win would be enough when Arsenal arrived at Old Trafford in the penultimate fixture of the 2001/02 campaign. The Gunners held a five-point lead over the Red Devils and repeated their feat of four years earlier with a statement result.

Sylvain Wiltord celebrated his 100th Arsenal appearance with the winner, as the North Londoners were crowned champions in their closest rival's backyard.

Manchester City 1-0 Manchester City - 2011/12

Sir Alex Ferguson dismissed Manchester City asnothing more than 'noisy neighbours' following the club's capture of Carlos Tevez in 2009, but by 2011/12, there was an almighty racket across town.

City charged down the run-in to claim a first Premier League title, with United's title-winning know-how not enough to outlast the upstarts. The Red Devils had held an eight-point lead with six games to go, but dropped points against Wigan and Everton opened the door for the Citizens.

Vincent Kompany's bullet header decided the biggest Manchester Derby of the Premier League era, as City gratefully accepted an invitation to put the title race in their hands.

City survived a final-day scare against QPR as Sergio Aguero slammed in a stoppage-time winner to crown the club champions.

Manchester City 4-1 Arsenal - 2022/23

Arsenal will aim to avoid a repeat of their 2022/23 collapse, where frailties were emphatically exploited at the Etihad.

Three consecutive draws for Arsenal had allowed City to close the gap to five points, with two games in hand, and Pep Guardiola's side did not step off the gas.

A ruthless performance saw Kevin De Bruyne and Erling Haaland score twice as City crushed the league leaders to take control of the title race.

City went on to complete a treble, while Arsenal made unwanted history. Their 248 days at the top of the league without winning the title set a new record.