MANCHESTER, England — And now, it’s a three-point race.
With just six minutes remaining at Anfield last Sunday, Arsenal enjoyed a commanding nine-point lead atop the Premier League standings. However, two late goals from Liverpool, combined with a decisive victory over Fulham on Wednesday, have narrowed that margin to just three points. This shift puts added pressure on Arsenal as they prepare to face Brentford on Thursday.
If the title race gained momentum through Bernardo Silva and Erling Haaland on Merseyside, City maintained their momentum against Fulham. The first half saw three goals in a 15-minute span from Antoine Semenyo, Nico O’Reilly, and Haaland, leading Pep Guardiola’s side to a comfortable 3-0 victory.
Any Arsenal supporter hoping for a slip-up likely turned off their screens by halftime. Mikel Arteta’s squad faced their biggest test of the season by convincingly defeating Leeds United 4-0 at Elland Road, a week following their defeat to Manchester United.
– The Tottenham position was too demanding for Frank, with deeper issues present
– The Premier League’s 50 most regrettable transfers: Who tops the list?
– Milner equals the Premier League appearance record: An overview of his impressive career stats
City is making it clear that Arsenal must demonstrate the mental toughness required to secure the league title for the first time in over two decades. A trip to Brentford, who have suffered only two home defeats all season, presents a formidable challenge, particularly under such scrutiny.
It’s a tense time for Arteta and his squad, but Guardiola opted not to fuel the pressure in his post-match press conference.
“We were not nine points ahead before Anfield, and we are not three points ahead before Brentford,” he stated. “After that, we’ll see.” He continued, “I always emphasize the need to grow and improve.”
Guardiola highlighted the team’s focus on consistency over 90 minutes and the players’ ability to implement their strategies both offensively and defensively. “We’re capable of succeeding mentally when we focus on our game patterns,” he added.
This version of Manchester City, still integrating new players and concepts, may lack the invincibility of previous treble-winning sides or the 100-point team. However, there’s a growing sense that they are starting to find their rhythm.
Rúben Dias returned to the lineup against Fulham after recovering from a muscle injury that sidelined him for over a month. Following Guardiola’s concerns about Haaland bearing too much scoring responsibility, Semenyo, who transferred from Bournemouth, has made an impact by netting five goals in eight matches.
Haaland was substituted at halftime due to “niggles,” as Guardiola noted, but not before he scored his first Premier League goal from open play in 2026. Rodri has been a consistent presence, starting six of the last eight games, while his backup, Nico González, has returned from injury. Additionally, John Stones has made his comeback after more than two months on the sidelines.
During December and January, Guardiola’s substitutes were often made up of academy graduates. Against Fulham, he had a bench featuring Tijjani Reijnders, Omar Marmoush, Rayan Cherki, Abdukodir Khusanov, and Rico Lewis as options. Jérémy Doku is expected to return from a calf injury in March, while Rayan Aït-Nouri is in fine form after his move from Wolverhampton Wanderers last summer.
Ultimately, none of this will matter if Arsenal continues their winning streak. However, as the pivotal clash between the league leaders approaches at the Etihad in late April, even the slightest slip could ignite nerves.
Guardiola noted that it was crucial for City to deliver one of their finest performances of the season following a high-stakes match at Anfield.
“A fantastic performance, perhaps one of our best,” he remarked. “After Anfield, it’s critical to regroup emotionally as the next match can be tricky. I’m truly satisfied with how the team played and the results.”
“We were united, composed in our play, and executed our strategies effectively. After the emotional and physical demands of Anfield, it was challenging, but we communicated well and responded strongly,” he praised.
With City handling their business, the ball is now in Arsenal’s court. Guardiola, while unwilling to engage in psychological warfare just yet, is keenly aware that we are approaching a decisive juncture in the season. Following the FA Cup clash against Salford City on Saturday, City will face three teams positioned in the bottom six: Leeds, Nottingham Forest, and West Ham United in their next four league fixtures.
In contrast, Arsenal’s upcoming schedule includes a home match against Chelsea along with challenging away matches at Tottenham Hotspur and Brighton & Hove Albion. Then, both managers will face off in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley, setting the stage for an exciting end to the season.
A title race that seemed all but settled is suddenly very much alive.
VAR Review: Why Phil Foden Wasn’t Sent Off For a Foul on Bassey
Andy Davies (@andydaviesref) is a former Select Group referee with over a dozen seasons on the elite list, officiating in both the Premier League and Championship. With extensive experience at the highest level, he provides unique insights into VAR processes, rationale, and protocols observed during Premier League matchdays.
Manchester City 3-0 Fulham
Referee: Paul Tierney
VAR: Neil Davies
Time: 65 minutes
Incident: Possible red card for Manchester City’s Phil Foden
What happened: Fulham’s Calvin Bassey was moving away from Manchester City’s Phil Foden, who inadvertently stood on Bassey’s Achilles without any intent to play the ball. The referee issued a yellow card for the incident.
VAR decision: The VAR reviewed the challenge and deemed it reckless rather than a serious foul play scenario.
VAR review: The check by VAR Neil Davies was quick, confirming that the challenge did not meet the criteria for serious foul play, leading to a swift clearance of the tackle.
Verdict / Insight: In my view, both the on-field decision and the VAR review were incorrect, leaving both parties likely disappointed upon re-evaluation. Foden’s challenge, which endangered Bassey’s safety by standing on his Achilles without any effort to play the ball, warranted a more severe punishment.
The nature of the challenge was apparent in real-time, highlighting a clear error by referee Paul Tierney and VAR Davies. The fact that Foden was substituted shortly after suggests that there may have been additional concerns surrounding the challenge.