Arsenal are helpless to prevent Manchester City from clinching a record fourth successive league title after Pep Guardiola’s side beat Tottenham to go top ahead of the final day of the season.
Man City were far from at their best at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Spurs gave it a good go despite the fact a positive result would have handed their arch-rivals the advantage in the title race, but Erling Haaland’s second-half brace put the champions on the verge of yet another title.
Tottenham came close to equalising several times, with Man City back-up goalkeeper Stefan Ortega twice denying Dejan Kulusevski after coming on for the injured Ederson.
Spurs’ best chance fell to Son Heung-min, who dispossessed Manuel Akanji and raced through on goal in the 86th minute only to see his fairly tame shot saved by unlikely City hero Ortega.
Carragher believes Son’s miss will ‘haunt’ Arsenal fans for the next decade and compared it to Vincent Kompany’s long-range goal against Leicester five years ago which put Manchester City above Liverpool going into the final day of the 2018-19 season.
‘Tottenham gave Man City more problems than I’ve probably seen anybody give them for a long time, in terms of the chances they created,’ Carragher said on a Sky Sports podcast.
‘Ortega, tonight alone, has won them the Premier League title. Obviously a lot’s gone into that over the season but when you look at this game, if he doesn’t make those saves at 1-0, Arsenal will win the league. That’s how close it is.
‘When I think of me a few years ago as a Liverpool fan, watching Vincent Kompany put that shot in against Leicester, that is that moment now for Arsenal fans.
‘That Son chance is the moment Arsenal fans will remember in five, 10 years’ time. Even if they win the title in the next five years – and they’ve got a chance of doing that because they’re a great team with a great manager – that chance will still haunt them.’
City boss Guardiola slumped to the floor as Son raced through on goal and admits he thought his team’s advantage in the title race was about to be evaporated.
‘Ortega saved the actions, otherwise Arsenal is champion,’ Guardiola said. ‘That is the reality in modern football. The margins are so, so tight.
‘I said, “no, not again”. But then Stefan made an incredible save because he has this talent. In the one against one, he is one of the best ‘keepers I have ever seen in my life.
‘It’s the German culture. Stand up, don’t go down. It’s really, really good. But not just today – since he arrived, playing in the FA Cup, the Carabao Cup. Even this season, Ederson has had four injury setbacks.
‘But Stefan is so reliable. He is an incredible ‘keeper. The club and our goalkeeper trainer made an incredible decision to bring him in here.’
Manchester City welcome West Ham to the Etihad Stadium on Sunday as they look to clinch a fourth successive title, while Arsenal are at home against Everton.
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