LONDON -- Manchester City know exactly when to be ruthless in a Premier League title race. If there was any doubt about that, they dispelled it during the eight minutes of stoppage time at the end of their 3-0 win against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
It was a passage of play that will only strike more fear into the hearts and minds of Mikel Arteta and his nerve-shredded Arsenal players as they prepare for what has become a potential title decider against City at the Etihad Stadium next Sunday.
If Arsenal win, they will move nine points clear at the top and banish the jitters that have seen them lose three of their past four games in all competitions -- including last month's Carabao Cup final against City -- and take a huge stride toward a first title since 2004. But a City win would move them to within three points of the Gunners, knowing that winning their game in hand will almost certainly take them top on goal difference.
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It is the goal difference that made their final eight minutes against Chelsea so compelling and instructive as to the mood within Guardiola's squad.
City started this weekend seven goals behind Arsenal in the goal-differential column, but after Bournemouth's shock 2-1 win at the Emirates on Saturday and City's win at Stamford Bridge, the goal difference has been reduced to just three in Arsenal's favor. That lead would be wiped out by a City win against Arteta's side and a victory in their game in hand against Crystal Palace, though it would still be close.
So despite being three goals up as they entered stoppage time, City's ruthlessness clicked in. The game was already won, and angry Chelsea fans were streaming out of the stadium, but the moment that the fourth official raised the board to signal the additional eight minutes seemed to kick Guardiola's players into an extra gear. They peppered the Chelsea goal like a team chasing a late equalizer or winner; Erling Haaland desperately tried to score his first goal of the game.
The home side found itself penned in by a City team knowing the significance of every additional goal it could score. In the end, City were unable to add to their winning margin, but the message was clear that every goal counts and that they will not waste the chance to score them.