The big three Man City characters Neville says Arsenal should fear in PL title race

Manchester City’s 2-1 comeback victory at Liverpool has trimmed Arsenal’s Premier League lead to six points and, according to Gary Neville, revived the champions’ pursuit of a fourth consecutive crown. Speaking on The Gary Neville Podcast, the former Manchester United captain identified three towering figures who could yet swing the race in City’s favour: manager Pep Guardiola, striker Erling Haaland and goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Neville, who declared Arsenal the pre-season title favourites, insists Mikel Arteta’s side remain “the best team, the best squad” and the most consistent outfit in the division. Yet he warns that Guardiola’s serial-winner mentality, Haaland’s ruthless finishing and Donnarumma’s commanding presence give City an ace that cannot be discounted.

“If Man City are going to win the league, they’re going to need something really special,” Neville said. “For once they’re not the best team—Arsenal are—but you can never write off Pep, Haaland and Donnarumma. They’ve just got it in them to produce something.”

Sunday’s triumph at Anfield, sealed after City trailed at the interval, leaves the champions six points behind Arsenal with a game in hand. Victory at Fulham on Wednesday would slash the gap to three before the Gunners travel to Brentford 24 hours later. Bernardo Silva admitted post-match that defeat on Merseyside would “probably” have ended City’s hopes; instead, Neville believes the result “must relight their fire” ahead of the final 13 fixtures.

While acknowledging the quality throughout Guardiola’s squad—Ruben Dias, Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden and Rodri were all name-checked—Neville underlined that the manager, the centre-forward and the goalkeeper represent the trident most capable of delivering another late-season surge.

“Guardiola’s presence, his ability to get something and win, he’s a winning machine,” Neville added. “Donnarumma and Haaland are massive physical presences, dominant and world-class in their positions. Those three big characters are the ones Arsenal have to watch.”

City’s next assignment is a west-London trip to Fulham, where anything less than three points would hand the initiative straight back to Arsenal. With 13 matches remaining, Neville predicts a nerve-shredding finale: “We’re not into the home straight yet—but that win at Anfield keeps City involved. Now they can’t let go of that momentum.”