Annoying Man City showed useful title-winning quality vs Fulham that should worry Arsenal

Kyle Walker said Manchester City 'weathered the storm' at Fulham, but by full time the only threat to their goal was a light breeze.

City, up 2-1 from the first half, would preserve that lead after the break to record a huge three points in the Premier League and leapfrog Arsenal for the first time since February. After needing a 95th-minute penalty to beat Fulham at home in November, City will have left Craven Cottage feeling they have not had to work harder for six points all season.

When it comes down to the end of the season, the two wins over a stubborn Fulham side will be just as important as the two wins over Arsenal. With 15 minutes to go on Sunday, it felt like an equaliser was inevitable - until two smart substitutions from Pep Guardiola nullified the threat completely.

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Goalscorer and man of the match Julian Alvarez had departed, as had winger Riyad Mahrez, with Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden coming on. Bernardo replaced Mahrez, but played a little more centrally, while Foden took Alvarez's place right behind Erling Haaland.

After the noise levels inside Craven Cottage had been steadily growing, and the sense of injustice from home fans reached pantomime levels following a string of refereeing decisions they were unhappy with, City were a little rocked.

They had conceded out of nowhere in the first half, and had lost a bit of their shape and discipline as the finish line got closer. Fulham players and fans were targeting Jack Grealish, squaring up to the winger on the pitch and taunting him from the stands. When he finally got a free kick after a number of inconsistent decisions against him, Grealish sarcastically applauded