• Wednesday night belonged to a superb City team. Erling Haaland let his hair flow freely near to the end of the match which was a symbol of the way in which City had played - open free-flowing football.
•It all went to plan for Guardiola and the difference in class between the two sides was enormous. Arteta trained his squad this week to press hard upfield.
Image: /FILE
Before the Manchester vs Arsenal match Pep Guardiola said he had “collywobbles” which meant he had a churned-up nervous stomach.
Mikel Arteta claimed that this match would not decide the title. Guardiola agreed but I doubt many others did.
Guardiola and Arteta hugged like long-lost friends before kick-off. Arteta did not feel particularly friendly by the end.
Mind games started before the kick-off as City placed the Premier League trophy near the dug-outs and it was adorned with light blue ribbons.
A reminder to Arsenal which team are current champions. On this showing, they won’t need to untie them at the end of the season.
During the match, Guardiola kicked over a dozen energy drink bottles, ignored his technical area, grabbed the fifth official when he thought Thomas Partey had played too rough and his arms waved so wildly I was surprised they didn’t fly off! Such was his passion.
After the match, his throat was sore from shouting for 90 minutes!
Clearly, he thought this was the big match that he had to win.
The power of the world’s elite football league was there for all to see and fans had flown in from the USA, Norway, Italy, the middle east, the far east and even Australia.
Such is the power of the Premier League. Wednesday night belonged to a superb City team. Erling Haaland let his hair flow freely near the end of the match which was a symbol of the way in which City had played — open free-flowing football.
Haaland and Man of the Match Kevin De Bruyne had controlled the game alongside Jack Grealish and the trio have to be the best in the world playing together.
It all went to plan for Guardiola and the difference in class between the two sides was enormous. Arteta trained his squad this week to press hard upfield.
Haaland, Grealish and De Bruyne destroyed that plan and simply cut the Arsenal midfield and defence to shreds as they played through. It was painful for the thousands of Gunners' fans to watch.
Some people suggested before the game that Guardiola might regret selling Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus to Arsenal but on Wednesday evening they looked exactly what they were under the City coach — squad players.
Zinchenko had only five more touches than keeper Aaron Ramsdale after an hour! Jesus had one touch inside the box during the whole game! It speaks volumes that goalkeeper Ramsdale was Arsenal’s best player by halftime.
Gabriel, Zinchenko, Martin Odegaard, Thomas Partey, Granit Xhaka and Bukayo Saka all went missing on the big night. John Stones, De Bruyne, Grealish, Haaland, Bernardo Silva and Rodri put on a spectacular show.
Haaland has now scored 49 goals this season and Guardiola has improved his ability since moving to the Etihad Stadium and his strength, power and speed put Arsenal to the sword.
After the game, Arteta sat with his team and the dressing room door was locked. His words were supportive, motivating and comforting but he knew deep down that his players had failed their big test.
Across the hallway, Guardiola went into the City dressing room, received a cheer from the players and told them how proud he was and thanked them for their efforts on the night.
Chelsea players behind Pochettino
Word from behind closed doors at the Cobham training ground is that Chelsea players all agree Mauricio Pochettino is their choice as coach at Stamford Bridge.
Both Pochettino’s agents and the Blues' board of directors are very pleased with the contract details.
Julian Nagelsmann withdrew after being convinced he had got the job and was then disappointed to hear that Chelsea were still interviewing candidates but expressed concern with the club’s recruitment policy.
Tottenham players have been texting and phoning Chelsea players praising Pochettino’s man-management approach and coaching skills.
He has already visited Chelsea’s training ground and interim coach and Chelsea hero Frank Lampard has promised his support and will give Pochettino an assessment of each player.
Klopp’s two main midfield targets
Jurgen Klopp has already started the process to rebuild his midfield after a disappointing season.
Borussia Dortmund have priced Jude Bellingham out of the market and Liverpool have had to look elsewhere but the alternative plan is causing much excitement inside the club.
Number one on Klopp’s list is 26-year-old Nicolo Barella, Inter Milan’s impressive midfielder who has helped his side into the Champions League semi-finals and he is valued at £60million.
22-year-old Khephren Thuram is the other man Klopp wants to bring into his squad.
The Nice midfielder is the son of Monaco and Juventus legend Lilian and he has made quite an impact during his breakthrough season.
Inter, Napoli and AC Milan are also interested but the Reds are in prime place to capture his signature.
Finally, Atalanta’s young defender Giorgio Scalvini is rated as Italian football’s upcoming star at just 19 years of age and fits in with Liverpool’s search for young stars for the future.
Decisions surround De Gea
Manchester United’s Erik Ten Hag is taking time to decide whether or not David De Gea is suitable for the possession football he wants his defenders to play.
He needs his goalkeeper to be good with his feet and show the confidence of City’s Ederson, who has been trained by Pep Guardiola to become an extra defender.
De Gea is a four-time Man United Player of the Year and a five-time selection in the PFA Team of the Year but his ball control on the ground leaves a lot to be desired.
Playing Harry Maguire into trouble in the Europa League last week was a typical example of failing to trap a high ball under his feet, dangerously playing out to his defender and putting him under intense pressure.
De Gea is out of contract in the summer although he could be kept on but with a vastly reduced wage. Dean Henderson is still waiting in the wings and Ten Hag is thinking about giving him his big chance next season.
Goalkeepers are required to be more complete footballers these days and Ederson at City, Alisson Becker at Liverpool and Ramsdale at Arsenal all show great skills with their feet.
Tottenham are in the same position as United and if they want improvement, then Hugo Lloris has to be replaced with a skillful ball-playing keeper.
Firmino to Barca
I understand from my contacts in Spain that Liverpool hero Roberto Firmino is joining Barcelona on a free at the end of the season.
Liverpool have already confirmed that the 31-year-old is leaving Anfield after eight glory-filled seasons. Barca have confirmed they have reached an agreement with Firmino’s representatives.
Fans plead with Declan Rice
Following West Ham’s amazing 4-0 win away at Bournemouth their supporters took the opportunity to encourage Declan Rice to stay one more year.
About 1,300 Hammers fans were squashed into the away end stand at the Vitality Stadium and their triumphant voices drowned out the home supporters. After calling for him to be sacked a few weeks ago, the fans sang out the name of coach David Moyes and then they started on Rice, who was running the game from midfield.
Arsenal are the front runners to sign Rice. However, Chelsea and both Manchester clubs are known to be interested. Securing West Ham’s first European trophy in 24 years would undoubtedly influence Rice’s decision to stay on longer.
At the end of the game, the players threw their shirts into the crowd and one lucky little girl caught Declan’s.
Mount's future at Chelsea in doubt
Chaos seems to be the main ingredient in London clubs these days with Chelsea definitely leading the way in turmoil.
After rejecting Mason Mount's contract demands, the club have returned to the negotiating table to discuss his request for parity with Reece James, who recently signed a fresh contract worth £250k-a-week.
Mason is currently injured and is unlikely to play again this season and possibly never again for Chelsea if their contract negotiations do not improve.
There are further complications, which centre on image rights and other advertising contracts which were arranged when Roman Abramovich was in charge.
Delaying a final decision on which way to turn, Chelsea have muddied the waters by indicating that they want to sign Joao Felix permanently from Atletico Madrid following his loan period.
This could seriously affect Mount’s ability for game time in the first team. Mount wanted a seven-year deal but was offered only a one or two-year contract which would end Liverpool’s interest but Mount’s agents are still working on a deal.
Chelsea value Mason at £70million but this is likely to be reduced as Newcastle and Manchester United also show interest.
Bayern Munich, under former Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel, could also make a move but that is unlikely to happen before next season but Chelsea are aware Mason could then leave for free.
Weghorst could return to Burnley
Burnley coach Vincent Kompany says the future of his on-loan Manchester United striker Wout Weghorst will be discussed at the end of the season.
The 30-year-old has only scored twice in 23 games but his impressive strength, hold-up play and linking with United’s midfield has given United coach Erik Ten Hag the choice of whether or not to try and sign him permanently.
Weghorst is under contract at Burnley until 2025 but the Claret and Blues promotion to the top tier of football means that Kompany has to consider all options to strengthen his team.
He also recognises that United are fighting for the FA Cup and a top-four finish which is currently preventing them from focusing on any player decisions for next season and therefore Weghorst’s future will have to wait for a few weeks.
Zaha offered £10m
Crystal Palace have offered their talisman Wilfried Zaha a new contract worth more than £10million a year. He has made 400 appearances for the club but is out of contract in the summer when his five-year contract expires and he could leave for free.
Zaha’s new offer would make him the highest-paid player in Palace’s history. Arsenal, Chelsea, PSG, Bayern Munich, Roma and Marseille are all interested in taking him in two months.
Zaha, who resumed training this week after a groin injury, wants a discussion about who will replace coach Roy Hodgson at the end of the season and also the club’s plans on how they will progress in the league after a number of seasons fighting off relegation.
Varane might make Cup final
Erik Ten Hag said that Raphael Varane could be back for the FA Cup final against Manchester City.
Varane injured his ankle in the first leg of the Europa League quarter-final against Sevilla, leaving the field at halftime.
United’s medical team at first feared he could be out for the rest of the season. However, with the Cup final being played on June 3, he could be fit but whether he makes any of United’s last few league matches remains to be seen, but is unlikely.
Saliba's injury not improving
The injury sustained by William Saliba against Sporting Lisbon on March 16th is giving more concern to Arsenal and their medical team.
He sustained serious lower back “structural damage” which has worried the doctors and could mean a long lay-off.
Despite the problem being linked to his lumbar discs, he has managed to return to the training field for a very light and easy workout. However, I have been told this did not go well and he suffered a painful reaction.
A further scan revealed the damage is not healing as well as expected.
Brighton face tough end to season
Brighton captain Lewis Dunk believes the club’s mighty match against Manchester United last weekend will inspire the players to get themselves into Europe next season by qualifying through the league.
He said: “We used to go out onto the field just trying to keep the score down. Every game was hard. But now we are going out there with no fear. We don’t fear anyone in the league.”
I wonder if Dunk has taken a look at Brighton’s remaining nine games during which they play Arsenal, the two Manchester clubs and Newcastle. The Seagulls are going to have to be at their very best to cope with that opposition.
Brighton face Wolves this weekend and have spent the week analysing their poor attacking record and Dunk believes they can add to the amber and gold club’s problems with a convincing win.