At 3 a.m. Beijing time on April 27, the 33rd round of the 2022-23 Premier League season ushered in the battle for the title of Tianwang Mountain, with second-placed Manchester City hosting top Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium. In the first half, Haaland assisted De Bruyne to break the deadlock, who in turn assisted Stones to extend the scoreline; In the second half, Haaland assisted De Bruyne's goal again and Holding pulled one back, and Haaland scored his 33rd league goal of the season before the end, breaking the league goal record (32) in the 38-game Premier League era. In the end, Manchester City won the battle of Tianwang Mountain 4-1 and beat Arsenal twice, trailing the Gunners by two points in two games and firmly grasping the initiative in the championship.
Prior to this game, Arsenal led Manchester City by five points in two games and had lost the initiative to compete for the title. Manchester City reached the FA Cup final and the Champions League semi-final. Arsenal have drawn three times in a row in their previous three league matches, losing six points. In the first leg between the two sides, Arsenal lost 3-1 at home to Manchester City.
In the third minute, Grealish crossed from the left side of the pitch, Ramsdale came out to save the ball, and De Bruyne tried to make up the shot, but kicked Thomas's leg and fell.
In the 7th minute, Manchester City's backfield launched a counterattack, Haaland in the middle circle leaned on Holding, stopped the ball and turned to send a diagonal plug, De Bruyne in front of him received the ball and advanced, came to the box in front of the right foot low shot, Ramsdale fell to the ground to save, Manchester City 1-0 lead Arsenal.
In the 21st minute, Zinchenko made a header mistake at the back, stopped the ball in the chest and dribbled into the box, facing the defender's left-footed push, Ramsdale held the ball. In the 26th minute, Haaland sent in a straight shot in midfield, De Bruyne stepped forward to receive the ball, he entered the box with a low left-footed shot that Ben White blocked.
In the 28th minute, Kevin De Bruyne sent in in midfield, Haaland received the ball offside and 1v2 faced two defenders with a low left-footed shot from an angle in the box, and Ramsdale fell to the ground to save the ball.
In the 32nd minute, Manchester City picked out a cross from the left side of the pitch, Haaland stepped forward to volley left-footed from a small angle on the left side of the box, and Ramsdale blocked the near corner to save the ball. In the 35th minute, Odegaard crossed in front of the box and Thomas pushed with his right foot, the ball was slightly deflected.
In the 36th minute, City counter-attacked, Grealish crossed from the left side of midfield, Haaland received the ball and pushed it left foot in front of the box, the ball was slightly deflected. In the 40th minute, Gundogan burst into the left side of the penalty area with the ball, wiped the defender to return the pass in front of the bottom line, and Haaland's push was saved by Ramsdale.
In the 45+1st minute, Manchester City won a free-kick in front of the arc, De Bruyne headed into the box, and Stones headed into the far corner. The linesman raised the flag for offside, but VAR stepped in to confirm the goal was valid as City led Arsenal 2-0. At the end of the first half, City had two goals in hand.
In the second half, Xhaka and Zinchenko combined on the left flank, with the former firing left-footed from distance in front of the box and Ederson holding the ball. In the 52nd minute, Ederson opened his foot at the back, and in the middle circle Haaland leaned on Gabriel, turned to receive the ball to form a single knife, and his push in the box was blocked by the leg of the attacking Ramsdale.
In the 54th minute, Arsenal made a pass mistake in midfield, De Bruyne made a tackle and Manchester City counterattacked, Haaland drove the ball to the box and sent straight to the goal, De Bruyne pushed the left side of the box to score, Manchester City led Arsenal 3-0.
In the 79th minute, Arsenal won a free-kick in front of the penalty area and Saka fired a direct shot that went high over the crossbar. In the 83rd minute, Nelson advanced with the ball in front and then split to the left, Nketiah received the ball into the left side of the box and volleyed left-footed, the ball deflected off the far post.
In the 86th minute, Arsenal passed continuously in front, Trossard on the right side of the box received a straight pass and then crossed, and Holding in the center pushed a powerful right-footed shot to score, Arsenal trailed Manchester City 3-1.
In the 95th minute, Arsenal made a mistake in a passing at the back, Manchester City made a steal and immediately hit in front of the box, Foden was light and straightforward, and Haaland's left-footed volley scored, City sealed the victory 4-1.
It was Haaland's 33rd Premier League goal of the season, breaking the previous record held by Salah to become the most scored in the 38-game Premier League era, and he was just one goal away from the Premier League record of 42 (the 34 held by Shearer and Andy Cole combined).
In the end, the match was over, with Manchester City beating Arsenal 4-1.