City’s New Hero: Antoine Semenyo Sinks Leeds to Close Gap on Arsenal

Manchester City proved they can thrive without Erling Haaland on Saturday, as January signing Antoine Semenyo fired the champions to a gritty 1-0 victory over Leeds United at Elland Road. The win moves Pep Guardiola’s side within two points of Premier League leaders Arsenal, setting the stage for a dramatic title run-in.+1

Semenyo: The £62.5m Bargain?

When City triggered Semenyo’s release clause from Bournemouth in January, many questioned the price tag. However, the Ghanaian forward has silenced critics by becoming the club’s most clinical finisher in 2026.

• Match Winner: Deep into first-half stoppage time, Semenyo latched onto a fizzing cross from Rayan Aït-Nouri to steer the ball past Radek Vitek.
• Record Breaker: This was Semenyo’s 14th Premier League goal of the 2025/26 season, making him the highest-scoring Ghanaian in a single EPL campaign.
• Stepping Up: Since arriving in Manchester, Semenyo has netted 6 goals in just 11 appearances, effectively carrying the goalscoring burden during Haaland’s recent absences.

Haaland Injury Update: Will the ‘Viking’ Return?

Erling Haaland was a surprise omission from the matchday squad after picking up a minor knee injury during training on Thursday.

“It’s a little injury—not a big issue, but he wasn’t ready for today,” Pep Guardiola explained. “We hope to have him back for the Nottingham Forest game on Wednesday.”

Despite Haaland’s absence, City controlled 70% of the possession and showed a tactical flexibility that had been lacking earlier in the season. With a massive Champions League Round of 16 clash against Real Madrid looming on March 11, Guardiola will be relieved to see his squad finding ways to win without their primary talisman.

Premier League Title Race (As of March 1, 2026)