Man City apply pressure to Arsenal in title race with 'massive' win but Pep Guardiola expecting to drop points
Pep Guardiola's celebrations at full-time of Man City's 2-1 win over Newcastle showed how important that three points was to him in the title race as his side moved to within two points of Arsenal; victory was fifth win in a row to keep pressure on their rivals
Sunday 22 February 2026 07:19, UK
Pep Guardiola does not expect Man City to stay perfect in the Premier League title race - despite claiming what he described as a "massive" win over Newcastle that moves them two points behind leaders Arsenal.
City produced a gritty 2-1 win on Saturday to apply the pressure on Arsenal after they threw away a two-goal lead to draw 2-2 at bottom-placed Wolves in midweek.
If Mikel Arteta's side drop points at Tottenham Hotspur in the north London derby on Sunday, live on Sky Sports, City can go top by winning their game in hand.
Nico O'Reilly's first Premier League brace was enough to seal the points against Newcastle but City had to dig in to hold on to their lead and the performance sparked big celebrations from Guardiola at full-time.
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Asked about his reaction to the win, the City boss told TNT Sports: "Massive. Newcastle is an incredible team. Awesome team. Physicality in the midfield and the speed they have up front.
"Really tough but the team was unbelievable."
Arsenal still have to go to the Etihad in April and City have won 16 of their last 19 home games in the league.
Guardiola has form for overtaking Arsenal in the title race late in the season. City won their final nine games of the 2023/24 season to lift the Premier League for a record fourth consecutive year.
Asked if he feels equipped as ever for the run-in, Guardiola added: "Seventy per cent of the players never played in that situation and I don't play. We have to believe it.
"They know - we know - that until the end of the season every game will be like this.
"Today we had the best crowd of the year. It was unbelievable. I am really proud to be manager of these incredible fans."
Guardiola is expecting there to be blips along the way for his new-look City side, who are also still competing in the Champions League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup, despite winning their last five in a row.
"Many things are going to happen," Guardiola said of the title race in his press conference. "I have a feeling that we are not going to win all our games. Arsenal, I don't know.
"But I have this feeling, because FA Cup, Champions League games, then comes trouble. Many, many games. Injuries will come.
"The best way is to relax now and focus on Leeds, then we'll see. It will depend on our level, it needs to be better, better, better."
He added: "We have a lot of new players, that's why they have to live it. I've said, forget about it. We have to improve, it's not enough. To compete to win the Premier League you have to be there. We proved ourselves to win the three points but we have to do better to have the chance to do it.
"I say to the guys, 'take a lot of caipirinhas and daiquiris in these three days, enjoy life'. And after that, make a proper three training sessions and go to Leeds. That is a proper way. I know how difficult it will be. If it doesn't go well, we keep going, never give up. Ten or 11 games is a lot in the Premier League."
Selfless Haaland impresses Pep
Sky Sports' Laura Hunter at the Etihad:
Erling Haaland is so often measured by his contribution at the top end of the pitch. Such reliability of output has been the difference for Manchester City on so many occasions. His 29 goal contributions this season are 11 more than the next best Premier League player (Igor Thiago).
But his latest performance was not one of sparkle or finesse in the box. He did not score either of City's two goals. And yet Pep Guardiola lauded him as City's "player of the match", praising his "incredible impact".
Haaland gave a selfless display in victory over Newcastle, used to occupy Dan Burn and Malick Thiaw to give space to Omar Marmoush and Nico O'Reilly. His importance was demonstrated in the clever ways in which City opened Newcastle up.
Their first goal was engineered via a flick-on that Haaland won deep in midfield, while the second was thanks to smart movement off the ball and a deft cross for O'Reilly to head home. Ordinarily those actions would be the other way around. That used to matter to him.
But this version of Haaland is the giving kind, as keen to provide and create as he is to score. "Against man marking you have to play more direct and if you don't win that ball, or fight the balls 50/50 then no chance. He did it. Many good things," Guardiola added on his striker's performance.
Only Rodri (13) won more duels than Haaland (11). He contested more aerial balls than any other player and drew three fouls while also managing the most touches in the opposition box (seven). No longer does the big No 9 have to score to influence the outcome of games, he's proving he can do it all.
