Manchester City continues to put strong pressure on Arsenal in the Premier League title race by narrowing the gap to 2 points.
The victory over Newcastle is like a psychological blow sent to The Gunners, especially in the context that the two teams still have a direct confrontation at the Etihad in April.
After a resounding 6-1 victory over Qarabag in the middle of the week, Newcastle entered the match with high confidence. However, signs of overload due to the dense schedule were revealed early.
Man City quickly controlled the game and took the lead thanks to Nico O'Reilly's decisive finish, after a favorable assist from Omar Marmoush. However, the away team reacted immediately when Lewis Hall unleashed a shot that changed direction, defeating Donnarumma to equalize.
However, The Citizens' class spoke up at the right time. Just minutes after the equalizer, Erling Haaland played the role of creator, helping O'Reilly complete a double with an accurate header. This goal helped Man City re-establish the advantage and create a favorable game before the break.
The second half took place at a slower pace, when Man City actively played defensively and controlled space. Nick Pope had an excellent day with many important saves, but Newcastle still could not find an equalizer against the disciplined defense of the home team.
In the next round, Man City will face Leeds. Meanwhile, Arsenal faces a big challenge with the North London derby against Tottenham tonight (February 22). If they cannot win all 3 points, the "Gunners" are completely at risk of being overtaken by Pep Guardiola's army in the race for the throne.
Some other notable results in round 27 of the Premier League:
West Ham 0-0 Bournemouth
Aston Villa 1-1 Leeds United
Brentford 0-2 Brighton
Chelsea 1-1 Burnley