Three things we learned from Arsenal defeat as full-time moment speaks volumes | OneFootball

Gunners are no longer favourites to win the title - but try telling them that

It was billed as a Premier League title decider and Arsenal must now hope that is not the case.

Manchester City won an engaging, tight encounter 2-1 and they now trail the Gunners by just three points while also holding a game in hand.

A win for City in midweek against Burnley and Arsenal will be second by the time they host Newcastle next weekend.

This was a significant improvement on Arsenal's recent form in terms of overall performance but missed chances undermined that.

Kai Havertz wasted two huge opportunities. Rayan Cherki and Erling Haaland were ruthless when their moments came. City now look certain to pull alongside the Gunners on the home straight.

Mikel Arteta and his squad were applauded by their own fans at the full-time whistle

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Arsenal down but not out

There was a defiance to the Arsenal away end at full-time.

They had just watched the Gunners fall to a painful defeat, a fourth in six matches in the latest instalment of the annual April stumble.

The Arsenal fans, though, gave the players a big ovation. This was a rallying cry of sorts, an insistence that the title race has not yet slipped away. How true that is will play out in Arsenal's final five matches.

Mikel Arteta's side were not outplayed. They did not collapse in the face of a huge occasion, but they were poor in front of goal.

That proved the difference. In a title race that could now come down to goal difference, it must change.

If it comes down to a straight shootout between Arsenal and City, it is hard to see the trophy not returning to Manchester.

In a strange way, though, some momentum has been restored for Arsenal. This was the best they have played in weeks and provides something to build on after a more adventurous display.

The title is still there to be won, even if City now have to be the favourites.

Kai Havertz had a tough day at the office

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Good and bad of Havertz

What does Arteta do up front now?

In a game that Arsenal needed to hold the ball up in, Havertz started. He was a much more effective focal point leading the line than Viktor Gyokeres and linked the ball well.

He also pressed superbly and forced the equaliser, harrying Gianluigi Donnarumma and charging down a clearance into the net.

That side of Havertz's game is not in doubt. What happens in front of goal very much is.

It would not have been the winner, though, had Havertz converted a free header deep in stoppage-time, but he powered that over the bar.

Those were two huge moments in the match and in Arsenal's season. They could look even more costly come the end of May.

Arteta does not have a striker than can do it all. Gyokeres is a better finisher but is lacking elsewhere. Havertz fell short when he was most needed.

Gabriel lucky to avoid a red card

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Gabriel loses Haaland battle

Gabriel barely saw Haaland in the early stages of the match.

The Brazilian instead followed Cherki around the pitch, while Saliba went man-to-man with Haaland.

That changed with one clash before half-time, Haaland winning a header and Gabriel then wrestling with him on the floor as neither let the other up.

Gabriel was well off his best. He was beaten too easily by Cherki for the first goal and then let Haaland get in front of him at the back post for what proved to be the winner.

Arsenal's centre-back was very fortunate to even make the full-time whistle.

Another duel with Haaland led to the City striker shoving Gabriel off the ball and the Brazilian took the bait.

He pushed his head into Haaland's face and was lucky to avoid a straight red card. Haaland's lack of reaction perhaps saved him.

Gabriel has been superb this season, one of Arsenal's players of the campaign, but this was an off-day at the wrong time.