Erling Haaland likened Bernardo Silva to Fabio Cannavaro as Manchester City earned a potentially crucial 2-1 win over Arsenal in the Premier League title race.

City remain second in the table, but are now just three points behind leaders Arsenal, with a game in hand.

Rayan Cherki opened the scoring at the Etihad Stadium with a stunning solo goal before Kai Havertz equalised 34 seconds after the restart by rushing down a Gianluigi Donnarumma clearance.

There were chances aplenty at both ends, but it was Haaland who secured victory in the 65th minute as he finished on the slide.

The striker is just the second player to score in four consecutive Premier League games against Mikel Arteta's Arsenal, after Liverpool's Diogo Jota between September 2020 and March 2022.

While Haaland will steal the headlines, he was particularly impressed by Silva, who will be leaving City at the end of the season.

"I told him [Silva], when he headed out [a late cross, beating Viktor Gyokeres to the ball]: 'You were like f****** Cannavaro today'," he told Sky Sports.

"Bernie, I'm not going to make it emotional. You were amazing as well.

"Every game is a final. On Wednesday, we have a new final. When we have stopped speaking here, it's about recovering for the Burnley game. Because the Burnley game just as important as this game. We need to stay focus, stay humble."

Haaland was also involved in a coming together with Gabriel, who appeared to throw his head towards the Norwegian, though the incident did not result in a red card.

Asked about his battle with Gabriel, Haaland added: "I think it's always like this. A lot of fighting and these kind of things.

"That's for others to decide if I won that battle. Of course, I scored the goal. I won that battle in the decisive moment; the cross was perfect. It was a great goal. In the end, we win.

"If I fell on the floor there, which I will not do unless someone really attacks me, then it would maybe be a red card. I'm not sure, I haven't seen the situation. It is what it is. I will not fall on the floor. For me, I don't know why he comes up to my face."

City are now unbeaten in their last 10 Premier League games (W7 D3), their longest run without a league defeat this season.

And Silva has full belief that City can continue their recent momentum and lift the trophy once more, with six games left of their campaign.

"[It's a] very big [win] because it puts us in a position, if we win our game in hand, we're on the same points," Silva told Sky Sports.

"Two weeks ago, this didn't look very likely, this scenario. I'm happy we can be on the same points.

"It's a long season. A lot of small details didn't go our way this season. Also, unlucky plays, we missed a lot of chances. A lot of games we should have won. Today things went our way. I'm really happy.

"I just want to finish on a good end with trophies. I am doing my best for this club until the end."