Pep Guardiola celebrates beating Newcastle United.placeholder image
Pep Guardiola celebrates beating Newcastle United. | Getty Images
Pep Guardiola did not shy away from celebrations following the win over Newcastle United on Saturday.
Arsenal take on Tottenham Hotspur in a huge North London derby this afternoon, all eyes on the fixture after a series of big Premier League results this week.
The Gunners dropped two points when letting a two goal lead slip against Wolves in midweek. Manchester City then took the opportunity to pile the pressure on in the title race with a big 2-1 win over Newcastle United on Saturday.
All of a sudden, the healthy lead that Mikel Arteta’s men had built at the top of the table has dwindled. Pep Guardiola’s side are now just two points behind Arsenal with the same number of games played - a defeat against Spurs today would put the power in the hands of City.
Manchester City had to fight hard against the Magpies and Guardiola let his emotion show on the pitch after full time, celebrating in style with the home faithful. Reacting to that moment, Premier League legend suggested there might have been method to the madness of the manager’s celebrations.
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He told Match of the Day: “That’s mind games as well from Pep, without actually saying anything. That’s Pep showing Arsenal they are up for this fight and they are ready to take this fight on against Arsenal. That was a tough game today against Newcastle and a fantastic win.
“Having the derby game against Tottenham, it’s never an easy game with a new manager in. They’re going to be looking at it, they know, the pressure is back on Arsenal. Let’s see what they’ve got.”
Meanwhile, Micah Richards admitted that Manchester City are well in the title race with pressure ramped up on Arsenal. He said: “I think, you just know you’re in with a fight now. There are always defining moments in a season and I think Man City’s was against Liverpool away when they came back after the Szoboszlai free-kick. It give you the little bit of impetus and momentum to say, ‘we’re in this’.
“Now, the North London derby is tomorrow, we don’t know what’s going to happen there. I always said, as long as Man City can stay two or three points in it for that game in April at the Etihad, they are in with a chance. That’s all you can expect.”
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