Key Takeaways
- Manchester City sit first on goals scored after edging Burnley 1-0.
- Gary Neville says City will lose points if they play like that again.
- Arsenal can return to the summit by winning their game in hand against Newcastle.
Manchester City climbed above Arsenal at the top of the Premier League thanks to Erling Haaland’s early strike at Turf Moor, yet the laboured 1-0 victory has convinced Gary Neville the title fight is far from finished.
Haaland dinked the visitors ahead after five minutes, but City failed to add a second and spent the closing stages holding off a spirited Burnley side already relegated to the Championship.
The result leaves City and Arsenal level on 80 points and goal difference; Pep Guardiola’s men edge it by three goals scored. Arsenal, however, have two fixtures before City next play in the league, starting with Newcastle’s visit to the Emirates on Saturday.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Neville claimed the narrow win could prove the perfect result for Mikel Arteta’s chasing team. “City collected three points, yet this is exactly the kind of display that gives Arsenal belief,” he said. “If City repeat this level, they will slip up before the season ends.”
Haaland, named player of the match, brushed aside questions about goal difference. “The only number that matters is the win,” the Norwegian said. “One-nil is enough. We are top; we move on to the next game.”
Guardiola also rejected talk of fatigue after Sunday’s energy-sapping clash with Arsenal. “We created plenty and controlled the game,” the manager insisted. “No complaints. Five finals remain, starting with the FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.”
Arsenal now have the chance to regain control of the race with victory over Newcastle, knowing any slip-up from City in the run-in could decide the championship.
