are relentlessly chipping away at Arsenal’s Premier League lead, with Phil Foden asserting that endurance is proving to be their most potent weapon within the title race.
A tough-fought 3-0 victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Sunday noticed Metropolis slim the hole to only two factors behind the Gunners.
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Pep Guardiola’s males might discover themselves on the summit of the desk earlier than Mikel Arteta’s aspect subsequent play.
Metropolis host third-bottom West Ham on Saturday, whereas Arsenal face a difficult journey to a resurgent Everton later that night, marking a major shift from November when the London membership held a seven-point benefit.
Sunday’s encounter at Palace, whose supervisor Oliver Glasner harbours top-four ambitions, initially threatened to derail Metropolis’s pursuit.
Nevertheless, after weathering early stress, broke the impasse with a header simply earlier than half-time, earlier than Foden sealed the win with an outstanding strike within the second half.
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“Crucial factor is endurance,” acknowledged the England midfielder, whose distinctive private season continued in south London.
Erling Haaland scored twice as Man Metropolis beat Crystal Palace on Sunday (AP)
“I believe we possibly tried to assault too rapidly. Within the second half we did lots higher. (Endurance) was the important thing for getting the outcome. We had extra management and extra passes, that’s the Metropolis method. It was a full group efficiency.”
Haaland secured his second and Metropolis’s third aim from the penalty spot late on, after substitute Savinho was fouled by goalkeeper Dean Henderson.
Palace, nevertheless, had their very own vital possibilities within the first half, with Yeremy Pino placing Gianluigi Donnarumma’s crossbar, Adam Wharton hitting a put up, and Eddie Nketiah forcing a very good save from Metropolis’s goalkeeper.
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“It’s a extremely tough recreation,” Foden added. “We all know what (Palace) are about. They make it tough, arrange effectively and have high quality gamers on the break.
“The primary half we had been simply making an attempt to determine them out. Second half we began to harm them extra and in the long run we killed the sport off.”
Additional dangerous information for Palace got here as Daichi Kamada was compelled off injured within the second half.
Glasner commented: “It seems like his hamstring. When he landed he over-stretched his knee and which means the hamstring acquired the total stretch as a result of he by no means had any muscle damage earlier than.
“It was simply an incident and he can hardly stroll. It seems fairly dangerous. He can have a scan (on Monday), then we’ll know extra.
“I believe we’ll lose him for a few weeks, however it’s an opportunity for different gamers to step up.”
