Man City Finding Top Gear as they Increase Pressure on Arsenal

We look at what their victory over Fulham means for Premier League title race

Football writer Alex Keble assesses the significance of Manchester City’s victory over Fulham in the Premier League title race.

There was a time when watching Manchester City sweep past mid-table Premier League opposition wasn’t newsworthy; a time when it signified nothing more than Pep Guardiola’s well-oiled machine purring on its way to yet another Premier League title.

But in their modern guise Man City’s 3-0 victory over Fulham is significant – precisely because it reminds us, and City themselves, of what this team are capable of.

The speed of their football and their ruthlessness in front of goal was a calling card, a rallying cry, and quite possibly the starting gun on a sprint towards the finish line. We all knew the comeback win at Liverpool had the potential to be the spark they needed. This was early, strong evidence that they are indeed finding top gear.

Arsenal supporters can be forgiven for a rising dread this evening, for hearing the distant beat of the drum. Man City supporters can be forgiven for a sense of calm, a sense of the inevitable seeping in as they bounce home from the Etihad Stadium.

Neither club’s reaction will necessarily last very long, of course, and with Arsenal still three points clear at the top before they travel to Brentford on Thursday it would be wrong to suggest there has been any movement in the title race tonight.

It was just one strong performance, and even then it was against Fulham, a team Man City have now beaten 20 times in a row in all competitions, the longest winning run one side has had against another in English football history.

Nevertheless, there were plenty of reasons why Man City will feel newly confident.

Man City ease past Fulham to go three points behind Arsenal

Match report

Semenyo could make the difference in title race

Antoine Semenyo’s goal and assist put this game to bed within the first half an hour, taking his tally to seven goal involvements in nine matches in all competitions for Man City since signing from AFC Bournemouth in January and suggesting he could be the difference-maker for them.

It isn’t just that his goals and assists will prove obviously useful in the run-in, but also that he is lethal; a star player with the kind of killer touch that has always defined Guardiola’s Man City at their best.

Semenyo, leading from the front, was the single biggest reason Man City looked and felt so synchronised, elegant, and cutthroat.

That matters almost as much as the result, because this City squad, which contains 12 players who have never won a league title under Guardiola, need the psychological boost of believing they are the next great Man City incarnation.

Semenyo already has that swagger. If he continues to lift his team-mates, Man City could soon be favourites to win the title.

Haaland is back – but can he stay fit?

No matter how well Semenyo plays Man City are unlikely to put together the string of wins required unless Erling Haaland is in top form, which is why his goal on Wednesday night was the most important of the lot.

Haaland’s superbly-taken first-half strike was his first open-play Premier League goal in 12 matches. The way he took the ball out of his feet and fired through the legs of Calvin Bassey into the bottom corner tells us Haaland – like City – is feeling full of life again.

Watch: Haaland’s goal against Fulham

It goes without saying that is bad news for Arsenal, as well as every single one of Man City’s remaining opponents.

The only question is whether he can stay fit, having been withdrawn at half-time due to “niggles” caused by “many games”, according to his manager Guardiola.

Guardiola provides Haaland injury update

Club News

Has Pep found a solution in full-back positions?

Throughout the 2025/26 Premier League season Man City have struggled to consistently create chances via the full-backs, and that issue has only become exacerbated by Guardiola’s increasing tendency to sit his wingers extremely narrow.

He did so again on Wednesday, relying entirely on his full-backs for width despite Fulham lining up in a narrow 4-4-2 that clogged the middle. But it didn’t stop Man City, partly because Rayan Ait-Nouri (finally integrated on the left after a long injury layoff) and Nico O’Reilly (moved to right-back for the first time in the league this season) performed so well.

Man City’s average positions v Fulham

Both full-backs were heavily involved in the opener, ending with O’Reilly’s cross deflecting to Semenyo to score, while Ait-Nouri again looked the part as an attacking left-back.

It’s an area Man City have appeared a lot weaker than in previous title-winning campaigns, when players such as Kyle Walker and Joao Cancelo have starred. Ait-Nouri and O’Reilly could be the answer.

 

Arsenal will feel the heat ahead of tricky trip to Brentford

Man City’s clean sheet, and strong second-half showing, is another reason for Arsenal fans to start sweating about the possibility of Guardiola putting a winning run together.

Aston Villa, too, will be worried despite clinging on to the title race with a 1-0 victory over Brighton & Hove Albion, although Unai Emery’s side may already be looking down, not up. Villa’s fans will be far more interested in the buffer their late winner created between themselves and the rest of the UEFA Champions League hopefuls.

Premier League title race: How it stands and remaining fixtures

As for Arsenal, their concerns are a little closer to home.

Brentford, who have won six of their last nine matches, will be happy to set up in a deep and narrow defensive block on Thursday.

Brentford’s PL form and fixtures

That means Arsenal will be allowed to dominate the ball and tasked with breaking through the shell, potentially slowing the visitors down significantly – and raising the tension among the players and fans.

Should the game wear on at 0-0, Arsenal will feel the heat; will feel Man City breathing down their necks.

Well they might. Man City sent a powerful message on Wednesday night, but more than that, they suggested that an old feeling has returned. Guardiola’s side have reminded themselves what it feels like to truly command a game – and truly believe they are the best team in the country.

Credit: www.premierleague.com