Premier League title chase suffered a setback on Thursday night as Pep Guardiola’s side were held to a frustrating 0–0 draw by Sunderland at a freezing Stadium of Light, allowing leaders Arsenal to move four points clear at the top of the table. Guardiola had earlier questioned whether the title race was a two-horse contest, but City can now ill-afford further slip-ups as Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal continue to apply pressure in the second half of the season. Despite dominating possession with 67 per cent and registering 14 shots, City were unable to break down a resolute Sunderland defence, who earned a deserved point and extended their impressive unbeaten home record this campaign. Temperatures in the North East hovered near freezing on the first day of 2026, but the match itself was anything but dull, with both sides creating chances in an entertaining goalless encounter. City captain Bernardo Silva admitted his side fell short of their usual standards, particularly in the first half. “It was two different halves,” Silva said. “In the first half we didn’t play that well. We didn’t control the counter as well as we should. We attacked too quickly and didn’t move them enough to find spaces. “In the second half we had a lot more chances, but today was one of those days we couldn’t finish them. We are not happy because we wanted better than this.” READ ALSO: Manchester United Held by Wolves as Fans Voice Frustration at Old Trafford The home crowd grew in confidence as the match wore on, with Sunderland matching City’s intensity and showing little fear against the reigning champions. Former City defender Steph Houghton, speaking on BBC Match of the Day, praised Sunderland’s resilience. “If you look at Sunderland’s home record, I think it’s a well-earned point,” Houghton said. “City will be disappointed with the chances they created, but teams like Arsenal and Aston Villa have also struggled there. We are only halfway through the season and there is a long way to go.” City’s struggles mirrored Arsenal’s own experience at the Stadium of Light in November, when the Gunners were also unable to secure victory against the Black Cats. Sunderland manager Régis Le Bris expressed delight with his team’s performance against one of Europe’s elite sides. “I’m enjoying it,” Le Bris said. “We showed strong character against probably one of the best teams in Europe at the minute. It was important to defend well, but we were also bold and aggressive high up the pitch. “I think we disturbed their flow and routine, and that was really important. We created a few chances as well, so it was a good game.” With the season entering a crucial phase, Arsenal will aim to maintain their composure at the summit, while City must quickly regroup as the title race remains finely poised.
Man City slip up at Sunderland as Arsenal open four-point lead in title race
