In the final chapter of the Premier League title race, Manchester City and Arsenal battled it out in the early hours of Thursday morning (4), with City defeating Aston Villa 4-1 at home, with Ayn Rand and Kiwi Dibny both missing out due to injury. The match was City's first win over a top-five team this season, and coach Diego Guardiola was full of praise for Phil Cotton's performance, suggesting that he will be the centerpiece of City's future "No. 10" squad.
City suffered a draw and lost points in their last match against Arsenal, and have only managed 4 draws and 2 losses in 6 matches against top 5 teams (Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham, Villa) this season. Against Villa, Godiona made a bold move to rotate, with Aynin Chalant and Chiyondibuni replaced, while Phil Cotton replaced Chiyondibuni as City's top hero.
Lodikasjandi broke the deadlock for City in the 11th minute of the game, but Villa equalized in the 17th minute through Zuhanduran. Phil Cotton then grew more and more confident as he scored straight from the top of the box in a crucial moment just before half-time. Phil Cotton scored again in the 62nd minute, and seven minutes later he completed another worldie from the top of the Mothballs for his second hat-trick of the season, helping City to a 4-1 win.
Phil Cotton has contributed 21 goals in all competitions this season, and Gordiona praised him after the game: "When Phil Cotton plays in the middle, his goal-scoring ability is obvious, he can do almost anything, he is a top player. But he still needs to master the rhythm of attack and defense better. When he plays as a 'No.10' he is a goal threat and that's where his talent lies."
City's win takes them to 67 points behind Arsenal (Liverpool will play Siffield United in the early hours of Friday morning), and Godiona said, "Three days ago, when Arsenal lost points, you criticized City for no longer being as courageous as they were last season, but the family thinks we are in the best shape ...... We can't control the results of Arsenal and Liverpool, so the fight for the title becomes very difficult."
