FOOTBALL
Posted on February 24, 2026 12:30 am | Updated on February 23, 2026 11:37 pm
Gary Neville, the former Manchester United star and top Sky Sports expert, has given high praise to Arsenal. After their 4-1 win at Tottenham on Sunday 22 February 2026, Neville said the Gunners answered all the big questions about their form.
What Happened in the North London Derby?
Arsenal travelled to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium full of confidence but they were also under pressure. They had drawn 2-2 at Wolves in their last league game, which poured a series of doubts about their mentality. Meanwhile, Manchester City beat Newcastle 2-1 on Saturday, closing the gap and sending a clear message: “We are coming for you!”
But Arsenal delivered a brilliant performance. Eberechi Eze scored twice, and new signing Viktor Gyokeres grabbed two more goals. Tottenham only managed one reply. The final score was Tottenham 1-4 Arsenal. It was Arsenal’s fourth straight win at this ground. A real statement in the biggest North London derby of the season.
William Saliba and Gabriel at full-time after the North London Derby. These two, such a special duo! 🇫🇷😮💨🇧🇷
(🎥 YouTube: chriscowlin) pic.twitter.com/lRkLoLUIWJ
— Arsenal Inside (@arsenalinside_) February 23, 2026
Neville: “The Answer Is No” to Pressure Questions
Gary Neville watched the game closely and gave his honest view straight after. He said the main question before kick-off was simple: “Were Arsenal feeling the pressure and wobbling?”
“The answer is no,” Neville told Sky Sports viewers. “They had a small blip in the first half but in the second half they were professional, stable, physically and mentally strong, and really controlled the game.”
He explained that Arsenal started brightly, scored early, but Tottenham hit back quickly. Many teams might have panicked, but not this Arsenal side. They stayed calm, fixed their shape, and then took full control. Neville loved how they killed the game off at 2-1 and never let Tottenham back in.
He added that the team can now “relax a little bit for a week.” This shows how important this win was at a nervous time in the season.
Withstanding Manchester City’s Pressure
Manchester City’s win and big celebrations (with Erling Haaland and Pep Guardiola smiling) felt like mind games to put extra pressure on Arsenal. Gary Neville called City “dangerous” with their strong attack full of stars like Erling Haaland, Omar Marmoush, Phil Foden and many others.
But Arsenal ignored the noise. They went out and won by three clear goals. Neville said this proved they can handle the “struggle, battle and fight” of a title race. He believes the pressure will stay for the next six to eight weeks, but Arsenal have shown they are ready.
A Big Boost for the Title Race
This result puts Arsenal five points ahead of City with around ten games left. Neville thinks the race will be exciting and “get hotter” in April. He even said Arsenal may need to win at the Etihad on 18 April to seal the title for sure. “That would silence City and rock them,” he explained.
But he is backing Mikel Arteta’s men. “They did everything right today,” Neville said. The win sends a strong message to City and the rest of the league: Arsenal are not scared and will not drop easy points anymore.
What This Means for Arsenal Fans
Gary Neville summed it up perfectly: Arsenal answered every question of doubts thrown at them and stood tall against City’s pressure. If they keep playing like this being strong, smart and together, they are in a great position to lift the Premier League trophy at the end of the season.
The title race is far from over, but right now the Gunners are in the driving seat. Manchester City will keep pushing, but Arsenal have shown they have the answers when it matters most.
ENJOYED THIS STORY?
Add Six Sports as a preferred source on Google to see more of our reporting
Add as a preferred source on Google
Mentioned in this Article
Recommended for you