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Manchester city took another step towards the Premier League title when Raheem Sterling’s early goal gave the runaway leaders a 1-0 win against Arsenal on Sunday.
Pep Guardiola’s men achieved 18 consecutive victories in all competitions thanks to Sterling’s header in the second minute at the Emirates Stadium.
With 13 games to go, City are 10 points ahead of second-ranked Leicester, which had narrowed the gap to seven with a 2-1 win at Aston Villa on Sunday.
City have equaled the club’s record of 11 consecutive away wins in all competitions, set from May to November 2017.
They are the first top team to win their first 11 league games in a calendar year.
Seeking a third title in four seasons, City have won 13 consecutive league games and are unbeaten in 25 games in all competitions since a loss at Tottenham in November.
Unbelievably, that was the last time they were behind in any league game.
Guardiola’s men weren’t even in their prime on their return to North London, but they still had enough in the locker to give Arsenal a third loss in their last four league games.
Borussia Monchengladbach have the next chance to stop City’s incredible winning streak in the first leg of the Champions League round of 16 on Wednesday.
If anyone had the secret to stop the City’s march towards the title, it could have been the Gunners’ chief, Mikel Arteta.
The Spaniard served as Guardiola’s City assistant before taking over Arsenal last season.
But Arteta had to make changes as several of his players were fatigued after their midweek draw in the Europa League at Benfica.
City ruthlessly pounced on the uncertainty in Arsenal’s reorganized lineup as they took the lead after just 80 seconds.
Ruben Dias made a magnificent long pass to Riyad Mahrez and the Algerian winger launched a cross into the six-yard box, where Sterling challenged his diminutive stature as he soared above Rob Holding to head into the far corner.
Sterling’s thirteenth club goal of the season was the sixth in his last nine appearances.
He should have had other moments later when Kevin De Bruyne’s pass divided Arsenal’s defense, but this time Sterling delayed his shot and Bernd Leno was able to save the striker’s feet.
Mahrez was tormenting Arsenal’s left-back Kieran Tierney and danced past him for a shot that went wide.
City’s de Bruyne was making his first start for more than a month after a hamstring injury.
The Belgian midfielder, who came off the bench in the win at Everton in the middle of the week, tried to get Ilkay Gundogan out but his errant pass gave away a bit of rust.
City had monopolized possession but could not deliver the coup de grace.
They were on the verge of giving in against the march when Tierney’s volley forced a good save from Ederson.
When Arsenal winger Nicolás Pepe fired into the side net, Guardiola’s frustrated voice was heard urging his players to push harder.
City regained momentum early in the second half and De Bruyne opened with just a bold chip from the edge of the area.
Leno had to save Gundogan’s 20-yard play well before De Bruyne’s volley widened.
De Bruyne, who was not in his prime after the injury, was withdrawn in the 63rd minute.
Joao Cancelo nearly gave Arsenal a draw when his tall back pass was volleyed directly to Mohamed Elneny by Ederson, but the midfielder swerved.
In addition to Arsenal’s troubles, Holding was forced to retire with a possible concussion in the final stages.
