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Defector

Luis Paez-Pumar

Bukayo Saka of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Semi Final Second Leg match between Arsenal FC and Atletico de Madrid at Arsenal Stadium on May 05, 2026 in London, England.

Soccer

Arsenal Can Almost Taste The Glory

Erling Haaland of Manchester City celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Arsenal at Etihad Stadium on April 19, 2026 in Manchester, England.

Manchester City Helpfully Extends Arsenal’s Freefall

Marc Guehi of Manchester City celebrates scoring his team's second goal with Antoine Semenyo during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Manchester City at Stamford Bridge on April 12, 2026 in London, England.

It’s Clear To Me Now That Manchester City Must Topple Arsenal

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<div>Abigail Segel is a contributing writer at Defector. She is also an editor for The IX Soccer and the Equalizer. Her work has been published in the Guardian and the Montreal Gazette.</div>
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Abigail Segel

Manchester City players huddle ahead of the Subway Women's League Cup Semi Final match between Manchester City and Chelsea at Joie Stadium on January 21, 2026 in Manchester, England.

Manchester City Lost A Battle But Is Winning The War For English Women’s Soccer Supremacy

Billy Haisley

Phil Foden of Manchester City and Rayan Cherki of Manchester City celebrate 4th goal during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Sunderland at Etihad Stadium on December 6, 2025 in Manchester, England.

Rayan Cherki’s Pass Was A Thing Of Beauty

Erling Haaland of Manchester City celebrates scoring the first goal during the Premier League match between Manchester City and AFC Bournemouth at Etihad Stadium on November 2, 2025 in Manchester, England.

Erling Haaland Has Taken Control

Jeremy Doku of Manchester City holds off the challenge of Leny Yoro of Manchester United during the Premier League match between Manchester City and Manchester United at Etihad Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Manchester, England.

Jérémy Doku Could Be More Than Just A Killer Wiggle

Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne (centre left) celebrates scoring their side's first goal of the game from a free-kick during the Premier League match at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester.

Kevin De Bruyne Has One More Job

Tom Ley

Lauren James #10 of Chelsea F.C. women crosses the ball during the Barclays FA Women's Super League match between Manchester City and Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, England, on March 23, 2025.

Chelsea And Manchester City Are Delivering The Goods

Jan Paul van Hecke of Brighton &amp; Hove Albion celebrates after he scored his side's first goal for 1-1 during the Premier League match between Brighton &amp; Hove Albion FC and Fulham FC at Amex Stadium on March 8, 2025 in Brighton, England.

The Premier League’s Tightest Race Is For Fifth Place

Kylian Mbappe of Real Madrid celebrates his second goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Knockout Play-off second leg match between Real Madrid C.F. and Manchester City at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on February 19, 2025 in Madrid, Spain.

This Is Why You Spend So Much Money On Kylian Mbappé

Vinícius Júnior of Real Madrid (L) and Rico Lewis of Manchester City (R) in dispute for possession during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Knockout Play-off first leg match between Manchester City and Real Madrid C.F. at Manchester City Stadium on February 11, 2025 in Manchester, England.

The Manchester City And Real Madrid Defenses Barfed All Over Themselves

Myles Lewis-Skelly of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team's third goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Manchester City FC at Emirates Stadium on February 02, 2025 in London, England.

Arsenal Did To Manchester City What Manchester City Used To Do To Everyone Else

Goncalo Ramos of Paris Saint-Germain reacts after scoring during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD7 match between Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City at Parc des Princes on January 22, 2025 in Paris, France.

Paris Saint-Germain Revived Manchester City’s Woes

Jhon Duran of Aston Villa celebrates scoring his team's first goal during the Premier League match between Aston Villa FC and Manchester City FC at Villa Park on December 21, 2024 in Birmingham, England.

Jhon Durán Can’t Stop Putting Goals On Film

Amad Diallo of Manchester United scores their side's second goal during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Manchester United FC at Etihad Stadium on December 15, 2024 in Manchester, England.

Manchester City So Deep In Hell That It Can’t Even Beat Manchester United

Mohamed Salah of Liverpool celebrating after scoring the second goal during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Manchester City FC at Anfield on December 01, 2024 in Liverpool, England.

Liverpool Is Winning A Battle Of Attrition

James Maddison of Tottenham Hotspur scores their 1st goal during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC at Etihad Stadium on November 23, 2024 in Manchester, England.

Tottenham Is As Dangerous As Anyone, When It Wants To Be

Mateo Kovacic of Manchester City reacts after they lose the match during the Premier League match between Brighton &amp; Hove Albion FC and Manchester City FC at Amex Stadium on November 9, 2024 in Brighton, England.

Manchester City Is Stuck In The Mud

Sporting Lisbon's players celebrate after Swedish forward #09 Viktor Gyokeres scored his team's fourth goal during the UEFA Champions League, league phase day 4 football match between Sporting Lisbon and Manchester City at the Jose Alvalade stadium in Lisbon on November 5, 2024.

The New Champions League Format Actually Rocks

Manchester City's Spanish midfielder Rodri (L) receives the Ballon d'Or award from former President of Liberia and former Liberian football player George Weah (2L) as he wins in front of second-placed Real Madrid's Brazilian forward Vinicius Junior and third-placed Real Madrid's English midfielder Jude Bellingham during the 2024 Ballon d'Or France Football award ceremony at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris on October 28, 2024.

The Best Isn’t Always Enough For The Ballon d’Or

Leandro Trossard of Arsenal leaves the pitch after being shown a red card during the Premier League match between Manchester City FC and Arsenal FC at Etihad Stadium on September 22, 2024 in Manchester, England.

Arsenal–Manchester City Clash Ruined By Premier League’s New Focus On Delays Of Game

Sávio Moreira of Brazil celebrates his goal during the CONMEBOL Copa America USA Group Stage match between Paraguay and Brazil at Allegiant Stadium on June 28, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Wings Week

Manchester City Ripped A Wing Off Girona Just Because It Can

Pep Guardiola, Manager of Manchester City, poses for a photo with the Premier League title trophy following the team's victory in the Premier League match between Manchester City and West Ham United at Etihad Stadium on May 19, 2024 in Manchester, England.

Manchester City Is Power

Stefan Ortega of Manchester City saves from Son Heung-min of Tottenham Hotspur with the score a 0-1 during the Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on May 14, 2024 in London, England.

Manchester City