Man City lay down Premier League title gauntlet as Arsenal hit by Kai Havertz injury blow

Feb 11, 2026 - 23:00

Manchester City have increased the pressure on Arsenal in the Premier League title race with a dominant display against Fulham.

The hosts raced into a three-goal lead during the first half at the Etihad Stadium.

Antoine Semenyo of Manchester City celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with team mates during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Fulham

City closed the gap to leaders Arsenal to three points by blowing Fulham away[/caption]

Goals from Antoine Semenyo, Nico O’Reilly and Erling Haaland blew away the Cottagers as City made it back-to-back league wins.

Pep Guardiola’s side gave their fans a comparatively comfortable evening following their dramatic victory over Liverpool on Sunday.

Having kept themselves in the title race with their late win at Anfield, they have now thrown down the gauntlet to the Gunners.

City’s 3-0 triumph against Fulham cuts the gap to the league leaders to just three points ahead of Arsenal’s next outing.

The frontrunners travel to Brentford on Thursday as they look to re-establish their six-point lead.

However, they will now face the added pressure of knowing City are breathing down their necks.

City finding form

By beating Fulham, City extended their unbeaten home run in the Premier League to 12 matches.

They have dropped just four points at the Etihad Stadium since losing to Tottenham Hotspur in August.

Meanwhile, their home record in the league this season is identical to title rivals Arsenal.

Both sides have taken 32 points from their 13 matches in front of their own fans, winning 10 times and losing just once.

Ruben Dias of Manchester City celebrates with Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City, following the team’s victory during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Fulham

Guardiola’s side are unbeaten in 12 home league matches, dropping just four points on that run[/caption]

City’s home form will remain an ominous distraction for the Gunners, with the two sides still to meet in Manchester.

Arsenal travel to the Etihad Stadium in two months’ time, with the clash currently scheduled for April 18.

Mikel Arteta’s side have not won at the venue in the Premier League since January 2015.

Their 10 visits since have seen an aggregate scoreline of 25-8 in City’s favour.

Havertz blow

Arsenal’s title hopes had already been handed a potential blow before City’s latest victory.

Kai Havertz has been ruled out for at least two weeks with a muscle injury.

Kai Havertz of Arsenal during the Premier League match Arsenal vs Sunderland

Havertz’s injury setback has handed another blow to Arsenal’s title hopes[/caption]

The German is set to miss the Gunners’ next four matches across the Premier League and FA Cup.

Those fixtures include the north London derby against Tottenham on February 22.

Arsenal are also set to host Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium the following week.

Havertz previously missed four months this season after picking up a knee injury in August.

Since returning, he has formed an impressive partnership with Viktor Gyokeres, providing two assists for the forward in four appearances together.

Prior to his injury setback, Havertz had been labelled the key to unlocking Gyokeres’ potential in front of goal.

Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal, reacts during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Sunderland

Arteta’s side must still travel to the Etihad Stadium, where they have not won in the league for 11 years[/caption]

Speaking on talkSPORT’s Inside Gooners, CJ Needham explained: “They both love playing together, Kai Havertz and Gyokeres.

“They’re a bit similar in that they’re physical, they can go long. When one drops, the other one clocks the other one’s game to go long.

“I personally think we’ve needed a bit of a switch up. I know Martin Odegaard’s had a knock and been injured, but I do think we need to be a bit more unpredictable.

“I do think we’re getting into that season when if players are in a purple patch or players do look confident, simply put you’ve got to get them in the side.”

Haaland concern

It is not just Arsenal who may have been handed an injury headache at a crucial time in the season.

Haaland was taken off at half-time against Fulham in a potential blow for Guardiola.

Manchester City’s Erling Haaland celebrates scoring his side’s third goal with Phil Foden during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Fulham

Haaland was taken off at half-time after ending his wait for an open play league goal[/caption]

The Norwegian had taken a kick from Joachim Andersen in the build-up to City’s second goal.

Despite later adding his side’s third, Haaland was not moving as freely as usual before being withdrawn during the interval.

Following the match, Guardiola told talkSPORT: “I didn’t speak, to be honest, I didn’t speak, not yet with the doctor. So now we’ll speak tomorrow morning. We’ll see what it is.”

Meanwhile, the City striker admitted he felt ‘discomfort’ after the opening five minutes and revealed the club doctors had advised him not to continue.

Haaland has now scored 22 goals in 26 Premier League appearances this season.