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Gary Neville has delivered his verdict on Arsenal's 4-1 North London Derby win over Tottenham and what it means for the Premier League title race with Manchester City
Gary Neville believes that Arsenal responded to the pressure pilled on them by Manchester City in the best possible fashion, after the Gunners beat Tottenham 4-1 in the North London Derby - and could even go on to beat Pep Guardiola's side at the Etihad Stadium in April.
City had narrowed the gap at the top of the Premier League table to just two points following Saturday's 2-1 win against Newcastle United at the Etihad Stadium. But Arsenal, who were held to a 2-2 draw against bottom club Wolves on Wednesday, responded with a convincing success against their bitter rivals.
Indeed, Mikel Arteta's league leaders moved five clear of second-place City as a brace each from Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyokeres saw them sweep aside relegation-threatened Spurs at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. While Arsenal have played a game more than City, the gap does feel a lot more comfortable for the Gunners.
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And after Arsenal's win against Tottenham on Sunday, Neville delivered his assessment. He told Sky Sports: "That was the big question coming into today's game, the wobbles were there, how much pressure were they actually feeling? That was the question at the start of the match. Would they demonstrate some level of anxiety or nerves? The answer is no.
"They had a blip in the first half but in the second half they were professional, stable, physically and mentally strong, and really controlled the game. They can relax a little bit for a week."
Three straight Premier League victories against Liverpool, Fulham and Newcastle have put City right back in the race for a sixth title in eight years. And ex-Manchester United defender Neville believes that Guardiola's side have got a real "chance" if they can keep their key players fit for the final 11 matches.
Neville added: "Man City are dangerous with the fact they've got [Omar] Marmoush, [Erling] Haaland, [Rayan] Cherki, [Antoine] Semenyo, [Phil] Foden. If they can keep the centre-backs fit, they've got a chance. The goalkeeper's good, the manager is exceptional.
"The celebrations at the end [after Newcastle] from Haaland and Pep Guardiola were meaningful. They were sending a message - that was mind games at play.
"Pep will say it's not, but it is. Every time you speak now for the next two months, every time you do something on the pitch, it's going to be transmitting to the opposition team - that's vulnerabilities, strength, celebrations, whatever it is.
"So what Arsenal had to cope with and the questions that they've had to answer, I missed one of them out and that was the fact that Man City have sent a message that we're coming for you and we're going to be breathing down your neck.
"Arsenal have withstood that, and they're going to have to withstand that for another six to eight weeks. They were never going to get this Premier League title handed to them on a plate. It doesn't work like that."
Neville later stated that he thinks this season will be the year that the Gunners go on to pick up three points at the Etihad Stadium, with what could be a pivotal fixture currently set for mid-April.
"I don't do predictions, I'm pretty poor at them, but this is the year they'll go and win at City," Neville added.
"That will be where you really do recognise that they are champions. But that's a wild prediction about a game and by then a lot would've happened. But that's how I see the season going.
"I've thought City might come back at them, they might even go past them, but they will drop points. They're going quite right themselves. Against Newcastle, they weren't hanging in, but it was a bit too close for comfort. They're not as dominant or as controlling as they were."
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