English media: starting Havertz shows how Arteta distrusts Gyokeres

Arsenal lost to Manchester City 1-2, their hopes of winning the title greatly diminished. Although the team hit the post twice and showed some highlights, they lost due to failing to seize key opportunities. 

British media talkSPORT pointed out that Arteta abandoned the high-priced new signing Gyokeres, letting Havertz start, clearly not trusting the Swedish striker.

Arsenal hit the post twice in the second half, and were also treated to two consecutive brilliant saves by Donnarumma, they can completely say that they lost quite unlucky. This loss reduces the Gunners' hopes of winning the Premier League again after 22 years.

Manchester City beat Arsenal 2-1 and regained the initiative in the title race. Arteta's team may have missed their best chance to top the league since winning the title 22 years ago.

Arsenal fans should ask: Where did this daring, proactive performance go at the crucial moment when the season entered its final stage?

The Gunners have only recorded one win in their last six games in all competitions, and that victory was a narrow 1-0 win over Sporting Lisbon in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-finals, a performance that is far from encouraging. But if they could have put in this kind of performance in that crucial game against Bournemouth last weekend, which they lost 1-2 at home, perhaps the advantage over Manchester City now would not be just a meager three points. Manchester City will top the table with a game in hand if they win away at Burnley next Wednesday.

This week, Arsenal players ignited their fighting spirit at the London Colney training base to boost morale for this most important battle of the season so far.

However, in the 16th minute of the match, the unstoppable Cherki scored a goal worthy of a title decider, breaking the deadlock and almost ruining the Gunners' pre-match plans. The agile French player dribbled past Gabriel and Declan Rice in succession, calmly pushing a shot into the far corner, then stared at the Arsenal fans to celebrate. In the eyes of older Manchester City fans, Cherki's dribbling run was like that of Giorgi Kinkladze, the team's darling in his prime in the mid-1990s. Just two minutes later, the game went from an extremely exciting moment to the absurd. Manchester City goalkeeper Donnarumma was slow to pass the ball, and was blocked by Havertz, the score instantly became 1-1.

Arteta's choice to start Havertz, rather than Gyokeres, who was brought in at a high price in the summer transfer window, shows that he has very little trust in the Swedish striker.

At the beginning of the 2nd half, German international Havertz had a chance to help Arsenal overtake after receiving a through ball from Ødegaard, but it was bravely saved by Donnarumma; then Martinelli's shot was quickly blocked by the goalkeeper, and finally Nico-Reilly cleared the ball on the goal line. After that, Eze's curling shot from the edge of the penalty area brushed the post, and Gabriel's deflected header also hit the frame, while Havertz missed a chance to score a winner in stoppage time.

The outcome of strong encounters often depends on such moments. Haaland, who had been silent for the whole game, gave a fatal blow in the 65th minute, he received a long throw from Donnarumma to launch a counterattack, and completed a signature calm shot from 6 yards, helping Manchester City to lead again.

At the final whistle, ecstatic Manchester City fans unfurled a giant banner that read: "Panic on the streets of London."

Water cups printed with the Arsenal logo outside the stadium cost two pounds, but this day was not the moment when Arteta's team personally buried the championship. What really put the team's fate in the hands of the strong Manchester City was the game against Bournemouth, and those games where they were 2-0 ahead away to bottom-of-the-table Wolves but failed to win.

Arteta remains firm about the prospects of winning the title. Of course, with more than a month to go before the end of the season, the Gunners manager has not given up hope of winning the title. When asked about the possibility of winning the title, Arteta said: "There are still many games to fight for, we know this very well. The players are already discussing the upcoming schedule."

And opponent Guardiola also remains cautious, believing that there may be more twists and turns in the title race. When asked if Manchester City are now the favorites to win the title, he asked: "Who is at the top of the league table now?" After being reminded that Manchester City have a game in hand, Guardiola responded: "You have to win the game. No one will give you victory before you kick off, let alone award me the Premier League title directly. I have to go out and fight for these three points."