Haaland had missed City’s Champions League play-off second leg exit against Real Madrid and the Premier League defeat to Liverpool with a knee injury suffered against Newcastle on February 15. The Norway star marked his return with the first half winner in north London as City climbed one point above Chelsea, who had gone fourth after their win over Southampton on Tuesday. It was Haaland’s 28th goal in all competitions this season, with 10 of those coming in his last 11 games to silence the critics after a barren spell earlier this season. After four defeats in their last six games in all competitions, this was a much-needed victory for City, who started strongly but rode their luck as Tottenham missed a series of second half chances. Pep Guardiola’s side are still a million miles away from the team that powered to four successive league titles prior to this season. But Guardiola will take encouragement from the way they ground out a gritty success at a time when so little is going right for them. Tottenham’s run of two consecutive wins came to an end, maintaining the inconsistency that has hampered them for a much of a turbulent campaign. Ange Postecoglou’s team are languishing in 13th place, with next week’s Europa League last 16 first leg against AZ Alkmaar the club’s sole focus to salvage the season. Haaland shot straight at Tottenham keeper Guglielmo Vicario in the opening minutes as City made a vibrant start. He wasn’t to be denied for long as City took the lead in the 12th minute. Jeremy Doku’s surge into the area opened up the Tottenham defence, with the Belgian’s cross put on a plate for the unmarked City striker to finish from six yards. Doku threatened to double City’s advantage as he cut inside for a low strike that forced a good stop from Vicario. Ravaged by injuries, Tottenham named their second youngest ever starting line-up in a Premier League match at an average age of 23 years 243 days. Postecoglou’s youngsters found it impossible to stop City finding holes in their defence time and again. Doku picked out Savinho five yards from goal but the Brazilian’s scuffed shot flew over when it seemed impossible to miss. Haaland wasted a golden opportunity with a close-range strike that Vicario saved with his legs. Tottenham nearly snatched an equaliser against the run of play just before half-time as Kevin Danso’s header was tipped over by Ederson. City were exposed again early in the second half as Brennan Johnson’s teasing cross reached Wilson Odobert at the far post, but the forward poked wide from four yards. Ederson had to scramble across goal to palm away Odobert’s deflected effort before it could loop into the net. City had lost their way and Tottenham should have been level when Destiny Udogie found Mathys Tel in space, only for the teenager to shoot wastefully wide. Postecoglou sent on Son Heung-min in the closing stages, but Ederson made a superb save to deny the South Korean before Pape Sarr headed over at the death as City held on. TITLE RACE ALL BUT OVER AFTER ARSENAL DISASTER Arsenal’s Premier League title challenge suffered another damaging blow after they were shut out by Nottingham Forest in a 0-0 stalemate on Wednesday. The Gunners’ lack of forward options due to a series of injuries was evident as Mikel Arteta’s men managed just one shot on target. Arsenal cut Liverpool’s advantage to 10 points, but the leaders can surge 13 clear with victory over Newcastle later. A point is enough to keep Forest in third, ahead of defending champions Manchester City. Arsenal’s title chances have been hampered by injuries suffered by Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz. Midfielder Mikel Merino was retained by Arteta in a centre-forward role despite failing to impress in a shock 1-0 home defeat to West Ham on Saturday. In the absence of fit and in-form attackers, Arsenal have been reliant on defenders coming up with big goals and Riccardo Calafiori nearly obliged. The Italian international came closest to scoring for the visitors when his first-half effort came back off the inside of the post. Merino forced Matz Sels into his only serious save with a header from a corner early in the second period. Arsenal did at least limit Forest to precious little as an attacking threat. Chris Wood had the hosts’ only chance 20 minutes from time but Forest’s talisman fired too close to David Raya. However, after three defeats in their last four league games, Nuno Espirito Santo may see this as a point gained in his side’s challenge to reach the Champions League for the first time, having last played in the European Cup in 1980. Originally published as Ange Postecoglou’s wasteful Tottenham Hotspur suffer painful 1-0 defeat to Manchester City