The title-race verdict: Guardiola, Arteta, players and pundits have their say

Man City beat Premier League leaders Arsenal on Sunday and are now just three points back with a game in hand; Win at Burnley on Wednesday will send City top of the table with five games left; Here, key figures at both clubs and Sky Sports pundits assess how the title race will go...

Sunday 19 April 2026 22:36, UK

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Arsenal are still top of the Premier League - but Manchester City landed a big blow in the title race by winning the top-two showdown at the Etihad on Sunday.

If City beat Burnley on Wednesday night in their game in hand, they will go to the summit, level on points with the Gunners.

But there could yet be more twists to come with this season not over yet!

Here, Pep Guardiola, Mikel Arteta, their players and our Sky Sports pundits have their say on what happens next in this thrilling race to be crowned champions of England...

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"I am happy because we can extend the hope. Maybe it goes until the end, we will try.

"Momentum changes. People said to me that the momentum from Arsenal is bad. What I saw today wasn't a bad momentum. They are in the semi-final of the Champions League, where they haven't lost a single game. Momentum shifts in one instance.

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"The reality is just one thing: they are top of the league. One ahead on goal difference. We have to enjoy it, celebrate it, take the good things. But don't lose the focus. In three days we go to Burnley."

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"The positive thing is we have seen the level, we can cope with that, and not just that but do even better.

"There are five games to go, but we're going to give a real go for it. We have full belief we can do it. Today we have shown the team that we are. It's still in our hands, and it's there for the taking.

"We were close, not close enough. But now we have to reset. We lost an opportunity today, a big one. But there is still another five to go. There are still a lot of positives today."

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Man City striker Erling Haaland:

"Every game is a final. On Wednesday we have a new final. When we have stopped speaking here, it's about recovering for the Burnley game. Because the Burnley game is just as important as this game. We need to stay focused, stay humble."

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard:

"There's always that pressure in football. Always noise. That's a part of being a football player at this level. We are going to keep going, focus on ourselves. Look forward to the next game and move on. That's all we're doing to do."

Does he still believe? "Of course!"

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Eight-time Premier League winner and Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville:

"I don't think both teams will win every game. City are going to have to drop points somewhere [for Arsenal to win it]. I'm not quite sure where that is. I think they have a massive, massive advantage now.

"I think next Saturday night [at home to Newcastle] has got a lot of danger [for Arsenal]. The nerves inside that stadium if Arsenal don't start well... it's imperative Arsenal get over the line in that game.

"That tension will still be there next Saturday and Arsenal have to cope with that and come through it.

"For the first time this season, I'm going to say [the Premier League ribbons] are going to be blue."

Three-time Premier League winner and former Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira on Sky Sports:

"Today, [Arsenal] had a good performance but the difference between good and great teams are the teams who are not used to winning and the ones who compete at this level all the time.

"You can see the difference today on the field and those top players made a difference today.

"The momentum is on City's side. It will be interesting to see how Arsenal recover because it's a huge disappointment for them. They will feel the pressure more now.

"I always question the mental strength of the team and I will question it more now regarding the result today.

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Seven-time Premier League winner and Sky Sports pundit Roy Keane:

"The momentum's all with Man City. They've been the best team the last eight, nine, 10 years at dealing with pressure. We saw that again today.

"Pep mentioned pressure before the game; if they didn't win, that was the league over, so these players can deal with pressure and they did that in the second half.

"They rode their luck a little bit, but they're peaking at the right time.

"I'm going to stick with Arsenal. That belief isn't as strong as it was before the game."

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Man City Premier League winner and Sky Sports pundit Micah Richards:

"I always said if Man City win this game, it would give them the momentum. I just thought this was the game. If City could get over the line and stay within three points of Arsenal, with the experience, the big players, the big moments, they would turn up.

"I thought Arsenal were very good today, but Man City just get over the line.

"I said: if Man City win this game, they win the league."

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