BBC
Manchester City have been crowned Premier League champions after fending off Arsenal’s challenge to win the title for the third successive year.
They were pushed most of the way by Mikel Arteta’s side, who spent much of the season at the top of the table but fell to defeat at Nottingham Forest on Saturday to hand City the title.
In a season of twists and turns there were plenty of crucial moments that helped to shape the title race. BBC Sport takes a look at 10 of them below.
1. Erling Haaland’s first goal for Manchester City
It seems like a lifetime ago but just before the season properly got under way we had the Community Shield in which Erling Haaland struggled in front of goal while Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez shone as Liverpool won 3-1.
Plenty of criticism followed but, just over a week later, the Norwegian scored two goals on his Premier League debut as Manchester City beat West Ham 2-0.
That set the tone for the season and, although Bournemouth managed to keep him quiet in the next game, he then scored in City’s next seven fixtures across all competitions – including back-to-back hat-tricks.
2. Thrashing of city rivals Manchester United
A Manchester derby is always to be savoured and the first of this season was no exception as Manchester City thrashed their rivals 6-3 at the start of October.
Haaland helped himself to a hat-trick as he continued his incredible hot streak in front of goal, with Phil Foden also scoring three times.
The emphatic nature of the win was all the more impressive because Manchester United were looking a much more imposing side under Erik ten Hag and had beaten Arsenal 3-1 just a few weeks before.
3. De Bruyne’s free-kick to outfox Leicester
By the end of October, Haaland had started every game for Manchester City and had scored an incredible 22 goals, but he was missing for City’s game at Leicester.
A win was needed by Pep Guardiola’s side to move top of the table before rivals Arsenal played Nottingham Forest and the ever dependable Kevin de Bruyne stepped up.
Early in the second half, the visitors were awarded a free-kick 25 yards from goal and De Bruyne arched a stunning strike over the wall and into the back of the net to secure the three points.
4. Haaland’s last-minute penalty
With Arsenal enjoying a flying start to the season, Manchester City knew they could ill afford too many slips ups.
However, it looked like they had walked on a banana skin when newly promoted Fulham looked on course to end City’s nine-match winning run at the Etihad in all competitions.
But in the 95th minute, the hosts were awarded a penalty when De Bruyne was fouled and Haaland kept his cool to step up and convert.
It was a dogged victory for City, who had played with 10 men from the 26th minute after Joao Cancelo was sent off, and one that moved them back ahead of Arsenal in the tug-of-war title race.
5. Mahrez goal off the bench
As the title race entered the new year, it was clear that Arsenal meant business and Manchester City would have a battle on to stage a successful defence.
On 5 January they travelled to Chelsea knowing defeat at Stamford Bridge would leave them eight points behind the Gunners.
Pep Guardiola’s side were far from their best but the City boss used his bench superbly, sending on Jack Grealish and Riyad Mahrez on the hour mark and they made an almost immediate impact as the former set up the latter to score the only goal of the game.
City dug in to grind out the victory, showing the sort of sort of fight that is the trademark of champions.
