Five Things Learned: Manchester City 2-1 Newcastle United (Premier League) | OneFootball

Manchester City closed the gap to Premier League leaders Arsenal to just two points with a battling win over Newcastle United at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday night.

Since Pep Guardiola’s men last played in the league, their title rivals had dropped a costly four points in just two matches, both from winning positions.

The importance of capitalising on this was not wasted on City, with the team coming out of the blocks firing in front of a buoyed Etihad Stadium on Saturday night.

Early pressure from the hosts paid off as Nico O’Reilly fired a striker’s finish past the diving Nick Pope to give his side a deserved lead.

Newcastle soon found themselves back on level terms against the run of play as Lewis Hall’s shot took a deflection off Rayan Ait-Nouri and went past Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Yet the pendulum swung back once more just minutes later as academy product O’Reilly grabbed a second, heading home a sumptuous cross from Erling Haaland.

Dan Burn thought he had levelled matters shortly before half-time but the big centre-back’s header was from an offside position.

The second half largely saw attack versus defence but the Blues held out despite increased pressure from the visitors to claim the all important three points.

Here are five things we took away from Manchester City’s Saturday night clash with Newcastle United.

1. The sharks smell blood

It became a theme that Manchester City became a shark team in title races in previous years, hunting down those in front to eventually prove victorious.

With the team looking dead and buried when Dominik Szoboszlai’s free-kick hit the net at Anfield just a fortnight ago, Pep Guardiola’s men now find themselves just two points away from Arsenal.

You can’t help but feel that history may be repeating itself once again for the sharks after yet another seismic win.

Newcastle United consistently threatened City’s goal but the eight-time Premier League champions remained resolute to pile the pressure on Arsenal ahead of the north London derby.

2. Pablo Zabaleta? Nico O’Reilly is THE man

Time and time again, Nico O’Reilly steps up when the team needs a spark, which is so mightily impressive at such a young age, consistently earning his place in a star-studded lineup.

Saturday night was no different, with the pressure building in the title race and Manchester City knowing the importance of starting each game well.

The confidence and technique shown in the finish to break the deadlock looked straight out of Erling Haaland’s locker, while his second helped swing momentum back to City’s corner.

Defence, midfield and attack – is there anything O’Reilly cannot do? What a fantastic example he sets to the club’s academy, showing young players that the path is very much there.

3. Resolute defensive demonstration

If you had said to a Manchester City fan a couple of years ago that their team would be defending for the majority of a match, they would have laughed you out of the conversation.

Fast-forward to 2026 and after a desperately disappointing season last time out, this is a very different Pep Guardiola side.

The defence has been bolstered by the likes of Abdukodir Khusanov and Marc Guehi, as well as the fortified Gianlugi Donnarumma between the sticks.

City found themselves soaking up a lot of pressure from the Magpies on Saturday but these three players in particular stood strong.

These battling performances are becoming part and parcel for the club this campaign – and it can’t be argued with while the results continue to be grounded out.

A certain other team could take some notes from this resolute defensive display on how to close out a match.

4. Haaland’s work-rate

It is no secret that Erling Haaland is a goalscoring machine; wherever he goes, the records go tumbling.

Yet the Norwegian’s immense work rate often goes under the radar, with much media attention falling on how little he is involved on the ball.

Haaland’s work off it on Saturday night was commendable as the striker’s energy was very much the driving force behind City throughout.

His whipped assist to Nico O’Reilly was also perfect, showing how much the goal-getter was willing to adapt his game to ensure his side walked away with a vital three points.

City find themselves right in the middle of this frantic title race with Arsenal, and Haaland will be decisive in which way the trophy swings come May.

5. Etihad curse continues for Newcastle

Heading into the game, Manchester City were unbeaten in the last 21 Premier League home games against Newcastle United.

Sixteen of these finished as a win for the hosts, with the away side last winning in the Premier League at Maine Road and boasting no top division wins at the Etihad Stadium.

This unwanted record for the Magpies was extended to another game as City professionally saw out the game on Saturday.

It was by no means easy like some of the previous matches have been, with Newcastle threatening right until the very last kick, but the impressive record continues for another season.