Gary Neville warns Arsenal about three Man City characters in new Premier League title verdict | OneFootball

Gary Neville warns Arsenal about three Man City characters in new Premier League title verdict | OneFootball

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Evening Standard

·9 February 2026

Gary Neville warns Arsenal about three Man City characters in new Premier League title verdict

Article image:Gary Neville warns Arsenal about three Man City characters in new Premier League title verdict

Arsenal’s lead at the top of the Premier League table remains at six points after Man City’s last-gasp win over Liverpool

Gary Neville has named three big Manchester City characters that Arsenal must be careful of in the Premier League title race.


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Arsenal recorded a comfortable 3-0 win over Sunderland at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday to open up a nine-point lead at the top of the table prior to Man City taking on Liverpool.

Pep Guardiola’s side arrived at Anfield having taken three points just once there since 2003 - and that was when no fans were in attendance.

Dominik Szoboszlai’s stunning free-kick in the 74th minute left City staring down the barrel at yet another defeat away at Liverpool. That was until the late show.

There was still time for drama in the closing stages at Anfield as Rayan Cherki, controversially, had a goal disallowed which resulted in Szoboszlai being sent-off for denying Haaland an obvious goalscoring opportunity.

Furthermore, Gianluigi Donnarumma pulled off a stunning save to deny Alexis Mac Allister an equaliser and the Italy international has been named as one of three Man City characters that can drag the team over the line.

Speaking on ‘The Gary Neville Podcast’, Neville said: "If Man City are going to win the league, they're going to need something really special.

"For once, [they're] not the best team. Arsenal are the best team and they have got the best squad. Arsenal are playing the best football, they're the most consistent and they're the most solid.

"But what you can never do is write off Pep Guardiola, and the likes of Donnarumma and Haaland, because they've got it in them.

Article image:Gary Neville warns Arsenal about three Man City characters in new Premier League title verdict

World class save: Gianluigi Donnarumma

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"They've just got it in them to produce something. They know their way around the block, they know what it's going to be like in that last five or six matches.

"So, the one thing that Arsenal have just got to be careful of is those three big characters.

"I know City have got more than that, they've got Ruben Dias and Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden and Rodri. They've got amazing players. But the goalkeeper, the centre forward and the manager are the three people who I think can win Manchester City this league.

"Guardiola's presence, his ability to get something and win, and just continually win. He's a winning machine.

"Then there's Donnarumma and Haaland - just massive physical presences. They are dominant and world-class in their position."

But what you can never do is write off Pep Guardiola, and the likes of Donnarumma and Haaland, because they've got it in them

Gary Neville

As Man City play before Arsenal this week they can move to within three points of the leaders with a win over Fulham on Wednesday night.

The Gunners then face in-form Brentford on Thursday and Neville has challenged Guardiola’s side to keep the pressure on.

"It's going to be an interesting last 13 matches," Neville added. "We're not into the home straight yet - but City were in danger of not being involved in the home straight if they carried on as they were.

"But that win at Anfield will relight their fire. It must relight their fire. They can't let go of that, they can't make a mistake against Fulham on Wednesday."

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