Pulsating Man City vs Arsenal title showdown proves English football is back with a bang

Pulsating Man City vs Arsenal title showdown proves English football is back with a bangManchester City closed the gap at the top of the Premier League to just three points by beating Arsenal in a game which exemplified the best of English footballCommentsSportopinionJeremy Cross Chief Sports Writer19:21, 19 Apr 2026View 2 ImagesMan City beat Arsenal to throw the title race wide open(Image: Getty Images)And to think, some people reckon the Premier League is boring. That was until the two best teams in the land got together, to gang up on the critics of English top-flight football.‌Putting on the kind of show which deserves to put such ridiculous claims to bed once and for all. The mesmerising skills of Rayan Cherki were worth the entrance fee alone.‌And if Manchester City were worried about having to replace the departing Bernardo Silva then worry no more. Because Cherki has what it takes and more, when it comes to filling such sizeable boots.‌But more of Cherki later. Because the Frenchman was just one part of a mesmerising and often magical game at the Etihad. A showdown that swung from brilliant to bonkers at the drop of a hat.READ MORE: Sky Sports forced to apologise for X-rated Erling Haaland interview after Man City beat ArsenalREAD MORE: Man City vs Arsenal player ratings as 9/10 star shines in huge win for Pep GuardiolaTwo teams living on the edge. Walking a tightrope of hope, fear, elationand despair in equal measure. When these rivals clashed in the Carabao Cup final a few weeks ago, the game had been so dull it felt capable of sending a glass eye to sleep.But this reunion was the polar opposite. For once, a football game delivering what it had said on the tin beforehand. It was hard work just watching it all unfold, let alone being part of it.‌The woodwork was struck four times. On one occasion, the ball rolled squeezed along the entirety of the City goal line, without anyone in a red shirt able to poke it home.City took the lead with a goal of sheer beau...