Pep Guardiola has put Manchester City at a place where they are most comfortable, which is the first place in the premier league table. A narrow 1 0 at Turf Moor over Burnley had left City again on top of Arsenal and rejuvenated the feeling that this time once more the champions just managed to run in time. It was not glitzy or their roughest performance yet in championships the score is at times more than style.

The time of the winning was early. Erling Haaland followed by scoring his first one in less than five minutes to silence home fans, and kick off celebrations among the travelling fans. Top of the league soon reverberated around Turf Moor when City was the first team in ages to be top of the league. It was a reminder of the fact that momentum could change extremely fast in the football world, especially, in the final weeks of the season.

But the outcome was one many could afford. The ball was under the control of 65 percent of the time by Manchester City with a total 28 shots and an expected goal of 3.54. Yet they might not have more than one objective. Against City, the Burnley goalkeeper, Martin Dubravka saved a couple of shots and City also had chances but too tired and bad in finishing. On other occasions, Guardiola and his team could have won three or four.

This may not be a difference because of the impossibility to add more goals. The title battle is now as close as thieves with the Manchester City and the Arsenal teams being level with 33 games to their name. Win-draw-losses of the two clubs are equal. The margin between the goals that have been scored narrows to 0.9 in favor of City. Just in case the two teams keep on winning, the trophy would be decided in May, due to the difference in goal or goal scored.

However, Pep Guardiola was not keen to discuss the opportunities lost. The City manager was happy that discipline, energy and ability of his side could implement the game plan. He explained that to come out the top of the table and score three points was the most important. It is a most hackneyed Guardiola quote: results are what counts, but the winner of championships is performance.

Meanwhile, this result will not come as good news to Arsenal. On the one hand, the defeat illustrated by Burnley proved that City is not an invincible team. On the other hand, it is namely this that makes them so dangerous as even when not at their very best they can still sensibly grind out victory. Arsenal was leading with a nine point margin, but lost a few points, and this has given the race a new start.

Psychology can now play an important part. Another football coach who has been referred by experts as an expert coach is Pep Guardiola. His relationship with its players, staff and supporters, build confidence in the club. Superstar ex-athletes and sports psychologists believe that momentum is something that can be tasted by a team and City appears to have it now. The confidence, clarity and calmness in pressure can be observed in the squad of Guardiola.

City experience there may be decisive. This team has already secured a couple of trophies in the league, bitter disputes, and is aware of how to behave under pressure. Arsenal, by contrast, are lagging behind in the final step having faced the near misses on a number of occasions. Talent is not an issue on either side. Instead of tactics, timing and nerves and consistency may hold more importance.

Lastly the other fixtures allow it to twist. Arsenal can start the momentum again, as they will win in their next matches, and City has to take a hard road to their matches. There is however one overbearing message which the table is driving on today here is one of the reasons why Pep Guardiola and Manchester City are winning the race back.

One sentence is sufficient to summarize it. There was no need of brilliance to catapult the Manchester city to the top. They demanded a manager who was more knowledgeable about title run-ins than any other person. As long as City continue scoring trophies in its fruitful shape, then the Premier league trophy could be heading back to the Etihad stadium.

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