As far as title-deciding moments go, it maybe won’t live in the memory quite as long as the last-gasp Sergio Aguero goal which kick-started Manchester City’s modern day domination of the Premier League over a decade ago.
But while Martin Tyler’s booming screech will forever haunt the dreams of those Man United supporters, it was the Arsenal fanbase left necking sleeping pills on Tuesday night.
Heung-Min Son, during nearly ten years as a Tottenham Hotspur player, has built up a reputation for himself as one of the most ruthless one-v-one finishers in world football.
The one time those of an Arsenal persuasion actually wanted Spurs’ number seven to rustle the net, however, Son’s usually ice-cool composure deserted him, Manchester City‘s substitute goalkeeper Stefan Ortega throwing out a right leg and diverting the shot to safety mere minutes before Erling Haaland‘s penalty put Pep Guardiola and co on the brink of yet more glory.
For the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss – chasing a fourth successive Premier League title – Son’s miss, and Vicario’s save, was living proof of the tiniest of margins which can decide such occasions.
An entire season’s worth of blood, sweat and tears coming down to one sliding doors moment in the 86th minute of Man City’s penultimate game.
Manchester City on the brink after Tottenham win
“In football, the margins are so, so tight,” Guardiola tells Hayters TV, dispelling the notion that Ange Postecoglou’s side were ready to roll over and have their tummies tickled in order to stop bitter rivals Arsenal claiming the title.
“When we were better is when they had the ball with (goalkeeper Guglielmo) Vicario. They were better when we had the ball with Edi (Ederson) because both teams make an incredible high press.
“Both teams, with the ball, they know exactly what they have to do.”
While it may have lacked the drama of December’s 3-3 draw at the Etihad, this was pretty much exactly how you would have imagined a clash between Guardiola and Postecoglou to play out.
An end-to-end, almost chance-a-minute encounter which could have finished very differently had Son, Dejan Kulusevski and co showcased the same ruthlessness Haaland displayed at the other end.
Spurs loss all-but ends Arsenal’s title dreams
“After the goal (Haaland opening the scoring just after half-time), they changed the gear. They were so aggressive. All the game, they were incredibly aggressive. So, I suffered from minute one,” a relieved Guardiola adds.
“People suspect; ‘No, they are going to win because they don’t want to give the title for Arsenal’. It was completely the opposite. They were playing for Champions League qualification with Aston Villa, who have not an easy game against Crystal Palace next Sunday.”
Tottenham’s valiant defeat – their fifth in six league matches – means Aston Villa have now secured qualification for Europe’s elite club competition.
Man City, meanwhile, will lift the title on the final day for a remarkable fourth time if they beat West Ham United at home on Sunday.
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