Premier League Top 3 Wins Shake Title Race London 2026

Key Points

• Manchester City defeated Newcastle United 2-1 at the Etihad Stadium, closing the gap to Arsenal at the top of the Premier League table to just two points.
• Nico O’Reilly scored a brace for City, opening the scoring in the 14th minute with a low strike and adding the winner on 27 minutes from an Erling Haaland header assist.
• Newcastle equalised in the 22nd minute through Lewis Hall’s deflected strike from the edge of the box, their first league goal at the Etihad since 2018.
• Pep Guardiola’s side capitalised on Arsenal’s mid-week draw against Wolves to ramp up title pressure.​
• Arsenal thrashed Tottenham Hotspur 4-1 in the North London derby, with Eberechi Eze scoring twice and Viktor Gyökeres netting a brace.
• Eze opened scoring in the 32nd minute from a Bukayo Saka cross; Randal Kolo Muani equalised for Spurs two minutes later after a Declan Rice error; Gyökeres restored the lead in the 47th minute, Eze added his second around the 60th minute, and Gyökeres sealed it in stoppage time.​
• Manchester United secured a 1-0 away win over Everton at Hill Dickinson Stadium, with substitute Benjamin Šeško scoring the only goal in the 71st minute from a counter-attack involving Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo.​
• United’s victory, under Michael Carrick, gives them a three-point lead over Chelsea and Liverpool in the Champions League race, both on 45 points.
• The match was cagey, 0-0 at half-time, with Šeško’s third goal in three games proving decisive against Jordan Pickford.​
• Newcastle threatened via Anthony Gordon, Nick Woltemade, and Anthony Elanga, but lacked quality; City controlled tempo and created multiple chances.
• Arsenal dominated possession against Spurs, exposing Tottenham’s defensive frailties despite a brief equaliser.​
• These results from matchweek 27, ending around 23 February 2026, highlight intense title and European battles.

Arsenal (North London News) February 24, 2026 Manchester City intensified the Premier League title race with a 2-1 victory over Newcastle United at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday, moving within two points of leaders Arsenal.​

Pep Guardiola’s team capitalised on Arsenal’s mid-week draw against Wolves, as reported by the Gulf News sports desk, with Nico O’Reilly’s brace proving decisive in a frantic first half.

How did Manchester City close the gap on Arsenal?

As detailed in the match report by Sky Sports’ football team, City struck first in the 14th minute when full-back-turned-midfielder Nico O’Reilly unleashed a low left-footed strike into the bottom corner following a swift attacking move.

Newcastle responded eight minutes later, per Gulf News coverage, when left-back Lewis Hall found space on the edge of the box and fired a deflected effort past Gianluigi Donnarumma, marking the Magpies’ first league goal at the Etihad since 2018.

O’Reilly restored City’s lead on 27 minutes, heading home an Erling Haaland cross, as noted by Manchester City’s official site reporters, securing the three points despite Newcastle’s threats from Anthony Gordon, Nick Woltemade, and Anthony Elanga.​

Sky Sports highlighted that Eddie Howe’s side managed no further shots on target until stoppage time, when Dan Burn’s header was ruled offside, underscoring City’s composure in a tense second half.

This win marks City’s 17th consecutive home Premier League victory over Newcastle, ramping pressure on Arsenal ahead of their derby.​

What unfolded in Arsenal’s North London derby triumph?

Arsenal responded emphatically to City’s result by thrashing Tottenham 4-1 on Sunday evening, according to Gulf News’ review.

Eberechi Eze opened the scoring in the 32nd minute, converting a precise Bukayo Saka cross after Arsenal dominated early possession, as per the report.

Tottenham equalised swiftly, with Randal Kolo Muani capitalising on a rare Declan Rice error to net his first Premier League goal just over two minutes later, levelling at 1-1 by half-time.

The Athletic’s live coverage noted Spurs manager Thomas Frank’s five-man defence struggled post-interval; Viktor Gyökeres slotted home two minutes into the second half, finding space on the edge of the box past Guglielmo Vicario.

Eze added his second just after the hour, exploiting Spurs’ defensive gaps, before Gyökeres sealed a dominant 4-1 win in stoppage time as Tottenham pushed forward.​

NBC Sports highlights confirmed Gyökeres’ brace and Eze’s double, with Kolo Muani’s lob as Spurs’ lone reply, affirming Arsenal’s title credentials despite the earlier slip.​

Why was Manchester United’s late win crucial?

Manchester United capped matchweek 27 with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Everton at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Monday night, strengthening their Champions League push.​

Gulf News reported a cagey first half with no breakthroughs, both sides struggling for clear chances under Michael Carrick’s guidance.

The decisive moment came in the 71st minute when super-sub Benjamin Šeško curled a composed shot past Jordan Pickford after a counter-attack initiated by Matheus Cunha’s long pass to Bryan Mbeumo, who laid it off perfectly.​

FotMob’s match summary emphasised United’s 52% possession and 1.27 expected goals edge (0.63 for Everton), with Šeško’s third goal in three games proving vital.​

This result, as per Gulf News, gives Carrick’s Red Devils a three-point cushion over fifth-placed Chelsea and sixth-placed Liverpool, both on 45 points, following Chelsea’s shock draw with Burnley.

Who shone brightest in these top results?

Nico O’Reilly emerged as City’s star, bagging his double in a 13-minute first-half frenzy, earning praise from Sky Sports for his pivotal role in the title chase.

Eberechi Eze’s brace lit up the derby for Arsenal, his first senior hat-trick elements noted by BBC Sport in similar contexts, though here paired with Gyökeres’ clinical finishing.​

Benjamin Šeško’s substitute impact for United mirrored his recent form, clinically finishing to snatch victory, as highlighted by FotMob analysts.​

Erling Haaland’s assist and City’s control, Bukayo Saka’s delivery, and Cunha-Mbeumo interplay all featured prominently across reports.​

How do these results impact the title race?

City’s win, per Premier League’s official wrap, piles pressure on Arsenal, now just two points clear after their derby response.

Gulf News noted Arsenal’s mid-week Wolves draw handed City the initiative, but the Gunners’ 4-1 statement reaffirmed their dominance.

United’s three points bolster top-four hopes, potentially decisive in a tight Champions League scramble.

What were the tactical takeaways?

Guardiola’s utilisation of O’Reilly as midfielder paid dividends, as Sky Sports observed, while Howe’s attack faltered in quality.​

Arteta’s Arsenal exploited Spurs’ defensive woes post-equaliser, per The Athletic, with Frank’s tactical switch failing to stem the tide.

Carrick’s United thrived on counters, with Sofascore-like stats showing efficiency over Everton’s possession.​