Eddie Howe has warned Arsenal that Manchester City are getting back to their best form under Pep Guardiola after Newcastle United’s FA Cup exit.

City ran out deserving 3-1 winners over Newcastle in the FA Cup fifth round at St James’ Park on Saturday night to secure their place in the quarter-final draw.

Harvey Barnes had given Newcastle the lead in the 18th minute but City equalised through Savinho before a second-half double from Omar Marmoush sealed the win for Guardiola’s men.

Meanwhile, City currently sit seven points behind Arsenal in the Premier League table after they were held at home to a 2-2 draw by Nottingham Forest earlier this week.

But Howe believes City are now hitting top form and claims Guardiola’s side have been ‘the best team’ Newcastle have faced this season.

‘I think that they [City] made changes to their team but I think you see the strength in depth that they have and they possess,’ Howe said after Newcastle’s defeat.

‘I think that was probably a step too far for us today against them when they’re in that mood, I thought they were excellent and we fell away in the game.

‘We seemed to lose our energy but they do that to you because they keep the ball so well, they make you run, they make you chase, then you’re tired and you make another technical mistake and you’re chasing again.

‘They’ve done that for years. That’s why, for me, they’ve been the best team that we’ve continually faced and today I thought they were in a really good place and we just fell out of energy.

‘I don’t think it was necessarily a tactical problem for us, it was more the way they play and how good they are technically. They took a stranglehold of the ball and when we got it back we gave it away too easily, maybe looking too vertical and not horizontal enough at times.

‘Then as soon as you make a technical mistake against them you’re not seeing the ball again for long periods and then your energy just drains away.

‘That’s why they’ve been the best team for so long and I think they’re coming back into the type of form that makes them that team again. They’re evolving into a different version of what they’ve been before but very, very effective.’

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By HARRY BAMFORTH, LIVE SPORTS COVERAGE REPORTER

Updated: 05:15 EST, 27 February 2026

Newcastle United have reportedly set their asking price for Anthony Gordon as they prepare for a bidding war from Arsenal, Manchester United and Liverpool this summer.

Gordon has enjoyed a mixed season for Eddie Howe’s side, scoring only three Premier League goals this season, but firing on in cyclinders in the Champions League.

Four goals in the first leg of Newcastle’s play-off tie with Qarabag brought his tally to ten in as many games in Europe for his club this season.

And that sensational form on the continent appears to have caught the attention of several English clubs ahead of the summer transfer window.

Liverpool were linked with a move for Gordon in previous summers, while Arsenal have also been credited with interest in the 25-year-old, who joined Newcastle from Everton for £45million in January 2023.

Manchester United are also reported to be monitoring the England international as they look to bring in a high-quality natural left winger to bolster their attacking options further.

But, according to The Sun, it is the league leaders Arsenal who are currently leading the race to sign Gordon, a player who Mikel Arteta has long coveted.

Left wing is a position that the Gunners contemplated strengthening last summer, and could revisit in the summer. Gordon predominantly plays off the flank, but has shown his versatility and led the line for Newcastle in recent weeks.

Despite signing improved terms before the start of the season, Leandro Trossard is only under contract until June 2027, while Gabriel Martinelli’s future could come under doubt also after repeated interest from clubs abroad.

However, signing Gordon will not come cheap, with the report adding that Newcastle have set a £95m asking price for Arsenal or any other club looking to sign the forward in the summer.

Victor Osimhen admits he wants Galatasaray to avoid Liverpool in Friday’s Champions League draw.

Galatasaray needed extra time to eliminate Juventus in their Champions League play-off tie on Wednesday night as the Serie A club scored three goals without reply to make it 5-5 on aggregate.

Osimhen then found the net in extra time to put Galatasaray in front on aggregate before Baris Alper Yilmaz struck to seal the tie for the Turkish champions.

Galatasaray will now play either Liverpool or Tottenham in the Champions League last-16, with the raw due to take place at 11am on Friday morning.

Galatasaray have already beaten Liverpool in the Champions League league phase this season as Osimhen’s first-half penalty sealed a 1-0 win against Arne Slot’s side at home in September.

Asked if he would prefer to face Liverpool or Tottenham in the Champions League last-16, Osimhen told CBS Sports: ‘I mean to be honest with you, meeting Liverpool now is going to be like some sort of revenge.

‘Anyone we meet now… I wouldn’t say much but I would like to escape Liverpool.

‘But if they come, yeah, we’re going to dig it out but it’s not going to be easy.

Who can the Premier League teams play in the Champions League last-16?

Arsenal will play either Bayer Leverkusen or Atalanta

Chelsea will play either Newcastle United or PSG

Liverpool will play either Atletico Madrid or Galatasaray

Man City will play either Bodo/Glimt or Real Madrid

Tottenham will play either Atletico Madrid or Galatasaray

Newcastle United will play either Chelsea or Barcelona

‘I mean this is Champions League, no team is easy, we can see how flying Bodo/Glimt are really doing in this tournament.

‘If you want to win you also have to play the big dogs and make a statement for yourself.

‘We’ve met Liverpool but we haven’t played at Anfield. If we meet them it’s going to be an amazing game. I think we’re up to the task, it’s not going to be easy, of course, but we have fight in us.’

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