Gary Neville praises Arsenal after Newcastle win

Arsenal secured a vital 2-0 win over Newcastle to keep the title race alive and won an admirer in Gary Neville in the process.

Arsenal travelled to St. James’ Park to face Newcastle knowing anything other than a win would all but hand the Premier League title to Manchester City.

Returning to the same ground that ended the Gunners’ top-four hopes last season, there was a sense of trepidation from Arsenal fans, but there needn’t be.

Gary Neville praises Arsenal after Newcastle win

Led by captain Martin Oedgaard, Arsenal put forth a superb display, beating Newcastle 2-0 which kept the title race alive. They also got some kind words from a former Manchester United legend in Gary Neville after their exploits.

​”They’ve really gone up in my estimations, Arsenal, from where they were in the last few weeks because people have said they lost their form, they didn’t lose their form,” Neville said on the Gary Neville podcast.

​”They played brilliantly, the best I’ve seen a team play at Anfield in the first half-hour, at the London Stadium they were sensational for 35 minutes, they were really good against Chelsea. They’ve not lost their form, if you do that you go down suddenly.”

Neville is right. Despite an unfavourable run of results that saw three consecutive draws and allowed City back into the title race, Arsenal were good value in each of those games.

They were 2-0 up against Liverpool and West Ham. They weren’t at their best against Southampton, but then have roared back against Chelsea and now Newcastle.

In years gone by, Arsenal would have wilted after losing to City and their once great season would have ended in the most sour way possible.

Not now.

There are still three games to go for Mikel Arteta’s side and four for Manchester City who are still in the Champions League competition as well.

Perhaps the most important thing for this current squad is to push City all the way for the title. With minimal games remaining, any slip-up will likely mean Pep Guardiola’s side secures the title, but the Gunners are forcing City to win their remaining games.

It shows the mental fortitude of this squad and when the team has a pundit like Gary Neville singing their praises, we know that the Gunners must be doing something right.