Manchester City were crowned Premier League champions after beating Arsenal for the title for the third consecutive year.

In a tortuous season, there were many clutch moments that helped shape the title race. BBC Sport profiles 10 of them below.

1. Haaland’s first goal for Manchester City

It seems like a long time ago, but just before the season officially started we had the FA Community Shield, with Erling Haaland struggling in front of goal and Liverpool’s Darwin Nunez winning 3-1.

Much criticism followed but just over a week later the Norwegian scored twice on his Premier League debut as City beat West Ham 2-0.

It set the tone for the season and, although Bournemouth managed to silence him for the remainder of the campaign, he went on to score in City’s next seven games – including back-to-back hat-tricks .

2. Beat city rivals Manchester United

Manchester derbies are always worth savoring and the first game of the season was no exception, with City thrashing 6-3 at the start of October.

Haaland continued his unbelievably hot streak in front of goal with a hat-trick, with Phil Foden also netting three.

The emphatic nature of the win was all the more impressive as United looked stronger under Eric ten Haag and had beaten Arsenal 3-1 just a few weeks earlier.

3. Kevin De Bruyne’s free-kick beat Leicester City

Haaland started every game for City through the end of October and scored an incredible 22 goals, but he missed City’s game against Leicester.

Pep Guardiola’s side needed a win to move to the top of the table ahead of rivals Arsenal against Nottingham Forest and the ever-reliable Kevin De Bruyne stepped up.

The visitors were awarded a free-kick from 25 yards at the start of the second half, and Kevin De Bruyne sealed the three points with a superb effort over the wall and into the net.

4. Haaland’s last-minute penalty

With Arsenal off to a good start to the season, City know they cannot afford too many mistakes.

However, as newly-promoted Fulham looked set to end City’s nine-game winning streak at the Etihad Stadium, they looked like they were stepping on a banana peel.

But in the 95th minute, the host got a penalty due to De Bruyne’s foul, and Harland kept calm and stepped forward to convert.

It was a tenacious victory for City, who had 10 men on the pitch in the 26th minute after João Cancelo was sent off, putting them back ahead of Arsenal in the title race.

5. Riyad Mahrez scored from the bench

As the title race enters the new year, it’s clear Arsenal mean business and City will mount a successful defence.

They traveled to Chelsea on 5 January knowing a defeat at Stamford Bridge would leave them eight points behind the Gunners.

Pep Guardiola’s side were far from at their best, but the City boss made brilliant use of his bench, bringing in Jack Grealish and Riyad Mahrez towards the end of the game and they produced almost immediately. The former helped the latter score the only goal of the game.

Manchester City went all out to win, showing the champion’s signature fighting style.

6. Manchester City beat Arsenal to the top

Arsenal’s title credentials were put to a huge test on 15 February when they hosted Manchester City in their first top-flight game of the season.

A win for the Gunners would put them three points clear of City and could deal a psychological blow to their opponents, but a defeat would put Guardiola’s side at the top of the table for the first time since November.

Bukayo Saka canceled out De Bruyne’s opener, but Grealish’s late goal – in incredible form since his World Cup return – and Haaland sealed a huge win for the visitors.

many thought it was a night shift in momentum In the title race with Manchester City.

7. Saliba is injured

Ask Arsenal why their title challenge failed and many will point to William Saliba’s injury.

The young French defender was the backbone of the Gunners’ defense for the first half of the season but limped off in a Europa League clash with Sporting Lisbon on March 16.

Arsenal also lost fellow defender Takehiro Tomiyasu in the same game and ultimately never recovered from their absence.

They did not keep a clean sheet in their next seven Premier League games, their next being a 2-0 win at Newcastle on 7 May, and by then the title race was out of their hands.

8. Arsenal lost to Liverpool with a two-goal lead

Heading into the end of the season, Arsenal’s young squad will face a test of mental toughness as they travel to Anfield in search of a first win over Liverpool since 2012.

They were 2-0 up after 28 minutes and led by eight points with just eight games remaining, but then conceded twice to allow a huge win to slip away from them.

It was the first sign that the title pressure was affecting Arsenal’s players. City are now in complete control of their destiny as they are six points behind the Gunners with a game in hand and a next game against Mikel Arteta’s side at the Etihad Stadium.

9. Saka misses a penalty

Incredibly, Arsenal went two goals ahead in the very next game.

Gabriel Jesus and Martin Odegaard gave West Ham a 2-0 lead after 10 minutes, but Syed Benrahma’s 33rd-minute penalty And Jarrod Bowen’s goal in the 54th minute meant the Gunners had to score another point.

However, the real crux of the game came early in the second half, when Arsenal – leading 2-1 at the time – won a penalty but failed to do so and Saka shot wide. Three minutes later, the Hammers were level.

10. Manchester City beat Arsenal to win the title

Despite the loss in April, Arsenal have one more chance to turn things around when they travel to Manchester City for the decisive game of the title race.

Arsenal were still ahead then, five points ahead of Manchester City, although Pep Guardiola’s side still had two games in hand – a win for the Gunners would put them eight points ahead and regain control of their destiny.

Their hopes were dashed after just seven minutes as De Bruyne scored and three more goals in a one-sided game as City produced a masterful display en route to a 4-1 win .

The defeat was devastating for the Gunners, who have reportedly dropped their chances of winning the title to just 10 per cent. to some predictions.

While there was little backing for Arsenal to turn things around after that, defeat to Brighton a few weeks later all but confirmed that their bid for a first Premier League title since 2004 was over.