Gary Neville has delivered a fresh Premier League title verdict after Arsenal beat Tottenham(Image: Gary Neville Podcast/Sky Sports)
Gary Neville has responded to Arsenal's huge Premier League title statement as they beat Tottenham 4-1 in the North London Derby. Braces from Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyokeres sealed a fourth consecutive win at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for the Gunners as they also restored a five-point gap to Manchester City at the top.
Pep Guardiola's side had put the pressure on Arsenal less than 24 hours earlier, courtesy of a 2-1 win over Newcastle United. Mikel Arteta's side also headed into the clash against their bitter rivals with just two wins from their last seven league outings after dropping points to Brentford and Wolves this month.
Fears of another draw were heightened when Randal Kolo Muani scored to level proceedings in the first half, but three goals in the second 45 saw Arsenal ride out comfortable winners. Neville has since provided his verdict on the performance and the message it sends.
He said on Sky Sports: "That was the big question coming into today's game, the wobbles were there, how much pressure were they actually feeling?
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"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."
The Manchester United icon provided a more detailed assessment of the title race in the 'Gary Neville podcast' that was released on Sunday evening. In that verdict, he addressed how City can win the league alongside the messages both sides will continue to send to each other.
Manchester City beat Newcastle United on Saturday evening(Image: Visionhaus/Getty Images)
Neville said: "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.
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"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.”
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