‘Very telling’ – Jamie Carragher spots major warning sign for Arsenal in Premier League title race

Jamie Carragher believes the celebrations that followed Manchester City’s 2-1 win over Newcastle represented evidence that the momentum has firmly shifted in the Premier League title race.

Arsenal’s lead at the top has been whittled down to just two points and although the Gunners have the chance to move further clear against Tottenham on Sunday, Mikel Arteta’s side have been left in no doubt that City have them in their sights.

Guardiola’s men were given an extreme examination by Newcastle on Saturday evening but eventually prevailed thanks to two goals from the ever improving Nico O’Reilly.

As he did in the landmark win at Anfield earlier this month, Gianluigi Donnarumma was forced to make a tremendous injury time save to preserve all three points and the goalkeeper was involved in passionate celebratory scenes at the final whistle.

Guardiola and Erling Haaland also took the opportunity to enjoy what may well turn out to be one of the most significant moments of the season with the Etihad faithful.

‘I thought that was really interesting watching Pep and Erling Haaland last night,’ Carragher told Sky Sports ahead of the north London derby.

‘When a strikers play in a game and he doesn’t score but his team wins he’s happy but he’s happier obviously when he gets a goal.

‘When I saw Erling Haaland like that at the end of the game I thought ‘ooh these really fancy this’.

‘Of course they do but I didn’t know if it was almost like a case of let Arsenal know that we really fancy or chances of winning this league and putting the pressure on.

‘To see Pep Guardiola like that a guy who has won everything in the game like that with so long to go was very telling.’

Guardiola, meanwhile, expects plenty more drama in the title race but insists City will not give up in their pursuit of Arsenal.

The City manager said: ‘When I was at Spurs and we drew 2-2 someone said why don’t we drop the Premier League and focus on the cups. I said, ‘No, why? Let’s go, let’s try’.

‘I don’t know what will happen next but many things are going to happen. I don’t know about Arsenal but I have the feeling we are not going to win all our games.

‘Coming (ahead are) the FA Cup, Champions League, Carabao Cup final, international break, many games, injuries – so the best way is to relax now and focus on Leeds. Then we will see.

‘Win the next game, that is what we have to do, but if it doesn’t go well, keep going. Never give up. Ten or 11 games is a lot of games in the Premier League.’