Manchester City cut Arsenal’s lead to three points with commanding first-half display against Fulham

Manchester City reignited the Premier League title race with an emphatic first-half demolition of Fulham at the Etihad Stadium, trimming leaders Arsenal’s advantage to just three points, Sport360NG reports.

Pep Guardiola’s men, buoyed by their dramatic late comeback at Liverpool last weekend, wasted little time asserting their authority. A blistering 15-minute spell before the interval effectively ended the contest and underlined City’s renewed momentum in the title chase.

The breakthrough arrived when Fulham midfielder Sander Berge’s attempted clearance fell kindly for Antoine Semenyo, who reacted quickest to stab home from close range. The January signing has quickly found his stride, and the goal marked his fifth in eight appearances since joining the champions.

Semenyo then turned creator six minutes later, slipping a well-weighted pass into the path of Nico O’Reilly. The young midfielder showed composure beyond his years, delicately lifting his finish over advancing goalkeeper Bernd Leno to double City’s lead.

The hosts put the result beyond doubt before half-time. Phil Foden picked out the surging run of Erling Haaland, and the Norwegian striker dispatched a precise low drive into the bottom corner for his 22nd league goal of the campaign. It was also his eighth goal in as many outings against Fulham, continuing a particularly prolific streak against Marco Silva’s side.

Fulham’s best opportunity came when Harry Wilson tested Gianluigi Donnarumma with a low strike at 1-0, but the City goalkeeper reacted sharply to preserve his side’s advantage. It proved a pivotal moment, as the visitors slipped to a third consecutive defeat.

City’s Midweek Momentum Builds

City’s resurgence after a shaky start to the calendar year has been emphatic. Following a four-match winless run, Guardiola’s side have now claimed three victories from their last four league fixtures, with only a 2-2 draw at Tottenham Hotspur denying them a perfect sequence.

The win further cemented the Etihad as a stronghold. City are unbeaten in 12 home matches and have collected 47 points from a possible 54 on their own turf, championship form that could prove decisive in the closing stretch.

Semenyo’s seamless integration since his £62.5 million switch from Bournemouth has added another dimension to City’s attack. His goal and assist on the night took his league tally to 17 goal involvements this season, reinforcing the value of the winter investment.

With the game effectively settled by the interval, Guardiola had the luxury of withdrawing Haaland in the second half. Foden, who was left on the bench at Anfield, started brightly but remains without a goal in 14 appearances after Leno denied him with a sharp save.

Perhaps most striking is City’s extraordinary record in midweek fixtures. The victory extended their unbeaten run in such matches to 56 games, a sequence stretching back to 2010, a testament to their consistency and depth under Guardiola.

As Arsenal prepare for a tricky trip to Brentford, the pressure is firmly back on the league leaders. With City finding rhythm at a critical stage of the season, the title race has taken on renewed intensity.