<p>Manchester City eked a win by the slimmest of margins on Sunday, setting up a season finale that will be determined by nerves</p><ul><li><p><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/mar/31/sign-up-for-the-world-behind-the-cup-a-newsletter-about-more-than-soccer"><strong>Sign up for the World Behind The Cup newsletter</strong></a></p></li></ul><p>It was probably Arsenal’s best performance in two months, but that will be scant consolation. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/apr/19/manchester-city-arsenal-premier-league-match-report">Manchester City’s win</a> on Sunday leaves Pep Guardiola’s side in control of the title race; they will go top of the Premier League on goal difference if they beat Burnley at Turf Moor on Wednesday. Both sides will then have five games to play.</p><p>Sunday’s game was decided by desperately fine margins. What prevented Eberechi Eze’s whipped shot from just outside the box going in? An inch? Half of one? Gabriel also struck the woodwork, while Kai Havertz headed a great chance a fraction over the crossbar in injury time. It was a defeat that has handed City the advantage in the title race, but it could very easily have been a battling draw to preserve Arsenal’s lead and, perhaps more importantly, restore morale.</p><p><em>This is an extract from Soccer with Jonathan Wilson, a weekly look from the Guardian US at the game in Europe and beyond. <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/jul/20/sign-up-for-soccer-with-jonathan-wilson-his-free-weekly-newsletter-on-european-soccer">Subscribe for free here.</a> Have a question for Jonathan? Email <a href="mailto:soccerwithjw@theguardian.com?utm_term=64e374e957bc66de2eba0d88db18746b&amp;amp;amp;amp;utm_campaign=SoccerwithJonathanWilson&amp;amp;amp;amp;utm_source=esp&amp;amp;amp;amp;utm_medium=Email&amp;amp;amp;amp;CMP=soccerwithjonathanwilson_email&amp;amp;amp;amp;utm_term=64ff1d6da46fdfa0ee94e9584bcde874&amp;amp;amp;amp;utm_campaign=SoccerwithJonathanWilson&amp;amp;amp;amp;utm_source=esp&amp;amp;amp;amp;utm_medium=Email&amp;amp;amp;amp;CMP=soccerwithjonathanwilson_email&amp;amp;amp;amp;utm_term=650857e42d6de1edacd87a4ce777e357&amp;amp;amp;amp;utm_campaign=SoccerwithJonathanWilson&amp;amp;amp;amp;utm_source=esp&amp;amp;amp;amp;utm_medium=Email&amp;amp;amp;amp;CMP=soccerwithjonathanwilson_email">soccerwithjw@theguardian.com</a>, and he’ll answer the best in a future edition</em></p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/apr/20/premier-league-title-race-is-far-from-over">Continue reading...</a>