Manchester City made an important decision ahead of their season-defining clash against Arsenal in the Premier League title race. On Wednesday night the two title contenders will meet for the first time in the league where City can overtake the Gunners with a victory after taking advantage of their draw against Brentford.
Leandro Trossard gave his new team the lead in the 66th minute, but Ivan Toney equalised eight minutes later with a goal surrounded in VAR controversy. With the Gunners dropping points, City had the chance to close the gap to three points before they face Arsenal on Wednesday at Emirates Stadium.
That opportunity was certainly not passed up by Pep Guardiola's men as they raced into a three-goal lead at Etihad Stadium against Aston Villa. Rodri opened the scoring after just four minutes with Ilkay Gundogan and Riyad Mahrez making it three before half time.
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The final goal of the first-half spree of strikes came from the penalty spot with Mahrez a surprising spot kick taker given Erling Haaland was on the pitch and is yet to miss a penalty for City this season. There was significant deliberation among the City players about who was going to take it, with their conversation later explained in a post-match interview by Rodri, who was joined by Gundogan, making a surprising claim about his own intentions.
He said: “It was clear, and the captain decides, I have to accept the decision. He just said Riyad is the normal shooter, but I just asked because I was filled with confidence in that moment, but I understand and accept the decision. I don’t know [if Erling Haaland should have taken it], it depends on the coach who decides before the game, and it was Riyad."
Prior to the arrival of Haaland City endured significant woes in deciding a penalty taker with Mahrez, Kevin De Bruyne, Gundogan and Gabriel Jesus all missing from 12 yards last season.
Mahrez went on a torrid run of missed penalties in the last year with his failure to convert from the spot against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League meaning three of his last four were not scored. The potential reason for Mahrez stepping up to take instead of Haaland was perhaps soon revealed with the Norway international not returning to action after half time.
A clash with Emi Martinez seemed to be bothering City's top goal scorer in the first half and subsequently the decision was made to not risk him any further with City comfortably in front. While Mahrez has missed a number of important spot-kicks he was able to dispatch just before half time against Villa, similarly to how he did last season on City's most recent visit to north London.
A dominant Arsenal went ahead through Bukayo Saka in the league against City on New Year's Day in 2022, but Mahrez equalised from the spot before Rodri snatched a late winner.
Those two teams will now meet again in just a few days with Mahrez seemingly reclaiming penalty taking duties from Haaland, regardless of whether or not Haaland is able to make the clash.
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