Manchester City took a huge step towards the Premier League title as Erling Haaland’s double clinched a 2-0 win over Tottenham to send them two points above Arsenal ahead of the final day.

In a subdued atmosphere at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with Spurs needing a win to keep their top-four hopes alive but knowing a positive result would help their bitter rivals, City went in front when Haaland tapped home Kevin De Bruyne’s cross after half-time.

City’s substitute goalkeeper Stefan Ortega made vital saves from Dejan Kulusevski and Heung-Min Son after replacing Ederson, who reacted furiously when made to come off following a blow to the head, but Haaland sealed the victory from the spot after Pedro Porro had fouled substitute Jeremy Doku.

The victory, City’s eighth in a row in the Premier League, means Pep Guardiola’s side will be champions for an unprecedented fourth year in a row if they beat West Ham at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, with Arsenal needing to win their game at home to Everton while hoping for an unlikely City slip-up.

How Man City edged to a vital win

The atmosphere was muted among the home fans but it was City, not Spurs, who looked lethargic in the first half, with an early Rodrigo Bentancur effort, tipped over the bar by Ederson, providing early evidence of the home side’s attacking intent.

The visitors did go close soon after that when Guglielmo Vicario made a superb save from Phil Foden following an error by Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg, but they lacked their usual fluency in possession while also offering Spurs encouragement at the other end.

The hosts failed to capitalise on their openings, however, and had to fall back on some excellent last-ditch defending by Micky van de Ven and Radu Dragusin to prevent City from taking a scarcely-deserved lead into the half-time break, with the latter clearing off the line from Bernardo Silva.

There were chances for both sides in the first few minutes of the second half, with Vicario making a sharp stop from De Bruyne and Ederson blocking a close-range effort from Son.

But City’s opener arrived only two minutes later as they worked the ball to De Bruyne, whose low cross from the right-hand side of the box was tucked home by the waiting Haaland.

The home fans took the opportunity to taunt their north London neighbours with chants of ‘are you watching, Arsenal?’, but Spurs had chances to level, with Ortega coming to City’s rescue on three occasions, twice denying substitute Kulusevski and also pulling off a brilliant one-on-one save from Son.

Ederson’s furious reaction to being substituted, after being inadvertently clattered by Romero following a cross, had come after Bentancur reacted similarly to being withdrawn for Kulusevski but City kept their cool on the pitch, sealing a momentous win through Haaland’s penalty to put the Premier League trophy within reach.

What’s next?

The final day of the Premier League season takes place on Sunday with all games kicking off at 4pm and the title race is going right to the wire.

Manchester City take on West Ham at the Etihad hoping to become champions for a fourth consecutive year. Arsenal, who are looking to win the Premier League for the first time since 2004, welcome Everton to the Emirates.

Tottenham‘s final fixture of the campaign sees them travel to already-relegated Sheffield United.

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