Neville Backs City's "Big Three" to Decide Title as Terry Eyes Arsenal's Character Test

Manchester City have given themselves genuine hope in the title race following their weekend statement victory over Liverpool at Anfield, winning 2-1 to keep the pressure mounting on Arsenal.

The Gunners, meanwhile, eased past Sunderland with a comfortable performance, maintaining their six-point advantage at the summit. But with two pivotal fixtures looming—City hosting Fulham on Wednesday and Arsenal travelling to Brentford on Thursday—the complexion of the title battle could shift dramatically within 48 hours.

Should Pep Guardiola's side claim victory over Fulham, they would trim Arsenal's lead to just three points before the Gunners' trip west. It's a window of opportunity that could prove decisive in the coming weeks.

Speaking on his Sky Sports podcast, Gary Neville outlined why he believes City remain dangerous despite Arsenal's superior form. "If Manchester City are going to win the league, they're going to need something truly special," he explained. "Arsenal are the best team right now. They've got the best squad, they're playing the finest football, they're most consistent and most solid. But you can never write off Pep Guardiola and the calibre of Donnarumma and Haaland, because they possess that X-factor."

Neville went on to identify three individuals he sees as City's trump cards. "The goalkeeper, the centre forward and the manager are the three people who I think can win Manchester City this league," he said. "Guardiola's presence and his relentless winning mentality is a machine in itself. Then you've got Donnarumma and Haaland—just massive physical presences, dominant and world-class operators in their positions."

While acknowledging City's broader squad depth—citing the talents of Ruben Dias, Bernardo Silva, Phil Foden and Rodri—Neville stressed that these three individuals represent Arsenal's primary concern. "Those are the three big characters Arsenal have just got to be careful of," he warned.

Chelsea icon John Terry offered his own perspective on the unfolding drama, highlighting the psychological shift in momentum. "The title race is officially on," he declared. "What a comeback that was—City looked dead and buried at 78 minutes, then suddenly it's six points instead of nine."

Terry drew on his own experience of title battles, noting the tactical significance of the fixture schedule. "Man City play Wednesday night. The race could be reduced to three points before Arsenal go away to Brentford on Thursday. It's a great opportunity for City to close the gap and apply real pressure," he observed.

He also praised Haaland's decisive contribution, particularly the striker's penalty conversion. "The big man Haaland stepped up under pressure and delivered when it mattered. This is exciting stuff in the Premier League—now we'll see what Arsenal are truly made of," Terry concluded.