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NBC Sports Soccer Pub: Arsenal v. Man City Reaction and Best Bets

Pep Guardiola

Pep Guardiola

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Matchweek 23 in the Premier League closed out Wednesday night at Emirates Stadium with the biggest match of the season. Arsenal hosted Manchester City with the top spot on the Table at stake. It was a game played at a very high level throughout with City raising their game in the second half and getting goals from Jack Grealish and Erling Haaland to claim a 3-1 win against the Gunners.

NBC Sports’ Premier League Analyst and the most-capped goaltender in United States history, Tim Howard, stopped by the NBC Sports Soccer Pub to talk about the game as well as the upcoming weekend in the PL.

Catch the full conversation.

Highlights include Howard’s reaction to yesterday’s game:

“What a game of football...The disappointing part is they (Arsenal) gave that team to Manchester City…they just squandered away goals in the back.”

Manchester City Adjusts and Attacks in the 2nd Half

The former Everton goaltender was not surprised Man City was a different team in the second half.

“He’s (Pep Guardiola) brilliant at game planning, at in-game management. So, it was not a surprise that they came out in the second half and things changed.”

[ MORE: Enjoy the Highlights and Reaction from Arsenal v. Manchester City]

Arsenal has now dropped points in three straight and heads to Aston Villa this weekend for what most of the soccer world, including Howard, believe is a must win for the Gunners.

“They have to bounce back…it’s a wobble…Villa is gonna be bright and early Saturday. They’re going to have to snap out of it…A draw is no good to them.”

All that said, Howard told Jay Croucher he still believes the Gunners will be atop the Table at season’s end.

“I think I’m in the minority, Jay. I do believe that Arsenal will win the title. They have a game in hand that will then put them three points clear if they win that game against Everton in a couple weeks. They then have to play City again.”

Croucher concurred.

“It’s a strange one whereas an Arsenal fan myself I kind of take heart from the performance in that they really played City almost to a draw on balance of play.”

[ MORE: How to watch Premier League in USA ]

The pair concluded their time shared at The Pub discussing a couple of clubs languishing in the middle of the Table - Liverpool and Chelsea. Howard poured water on the hopes of fans of the clubs that either will qualify for Europe next season.

“I would be shocked if Liverpool or Chelsea even compete for a Champions League spot.”

Matchweek 24 in the Premier League: Best Bets

Brad Thomas stopped by to talk Best Bets with Jay late in the episode.

“I’m going to be on Liverpool Draw/No Bet…Where have their (Newcastle) impressive wins come from?...All the numbers tell us we should back Liverpool here for the price.”

Croucher countered with a look to Brighton to push North in the Table.

“I backed Brighton to finish in the Top 4 at +850…They didn’t have the mass exodus at the transfer deadline that we thought was possible…That is decent value.”

Matchweek 24 in the Premier League kicks off Saturday morning on NBC Sports and Peacock.

Enjoy the matches and enjoy the sweat.