Pep Guardiola watched his side draw 1-1 with Newcastle United at St. James’ Park on Saturday.
Josko Gvardiol gave Manchester City the lead after being played in by Jack Grealish, before Anthony Gordon won and scored a penalty for the hosts.
City then failed to break Newcastle down for a second time in the game, meaning a third draw in the last four matches across all competitions.
Elsewhere in the Premier League, Arsenal beat Leicester City 4-2. The Gunners left it late, but managed to take all three points after injury-time goals from Leandro Trossard and Kai Havertz.
The latest results mean City and Arsenal are both now on 14 points, with Liverpool top on 15 – and Gary Neville has offered some thoughts.
Before a ball was kicked this season, many tipped Arsenal to win the Premier League.
The Gunners have challenged City for the past two campaigns and last term it went to the final day, with City winning it by just two points.
Mikel Arteta has turned Arsenal into a force, and many feel as though it will be their year. With Rodri now out long-term, those who backed Arsenal are feeling more confident.
After this weekend’s results, Gary Neville spoke about the two clubs in relation to the title race.
The Sky pundit was one of those people to back Arsenal at the start of the season, and he feels Pep Guardiola will already be feeling the challenge of the Gunners.
He said on the Gary Neville podcast: “It’s going to be good. I think it was good last year, and it’s going to be good this year.
“I think City know that there’s someone creeping up on their shoulder. We (Manchester United) knew it when City were chasing us all those years ago and I was retiring. You knew they were getting closer every single year.
“There’s no doubt Arsenal are on their shoulder. There’s no doubt Pep Guardiola is smelling and feeling the challenge that he wants. He wants this challenge. He loves to overcome this type of challenge.
“They don’t want to give in, City. They’re not going to make it easy for them. But I like the way in which it’s going to pan out, I think we’re going to have a really good title race, obviously not understanding what’s going to happen with City’s legal case.”
Certainly for the neutral, this season could be a brilliant title race.
Manchester City are going in pursuit of an historic fifth consecutive Premier League title, after making history last term with the fourth.
Arsenal will be determined to stop that from happening, and they will feel it’s their moment this season.
They have closed the gap to City over the last two seasons and they will surely provide a stern test once again this time around.
City will have to be at their very best to deny them. The loss of Rodri is huge and there could be question marks over how much Kevin De Bruyne will be able to play. The club also didn’t do too much in the transfer market, but could strengthen in January if things aren’t going to plan.
There is also, of course, Liverpool.
The Reds have started brightly under new manager Arne Slot and could well be outside challengers
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