Manchester United Icon Gary Neville has finally conceded and admitted that Arsenal can win the Premier League ahead of defending Champions Manchester City.
Despite their impressive performance this season, Gray Neville has always doubted Arsenal’s title credentials. The Gunners are top of the Premier League with 50 points, ahead of Manchester City with 45 points.
Manchester City should have taken advantage of Arsenal’s 1-0 defeat to Everton. Manchester City‘s winless run at the Tottenham Hotspurs stadium continues after they suffered another 1-0 loss to Antonio Conte’s side.
Neville believes Manchester City’s latest defeat to Tottenham has opened the door for the Gunners to win their first Premier League title in nearly 19 years.
What did Gary Neville say?
The Ex-Manchester United skipper said on The Overlap Podcast: “I think they played quite well [against Everton]; I didn’t think it was a bad one – obviously, it’s a bad result for them.
“Do you know something, we were at the City game on Sunday, and when the team came through, I thought for the first time that Arsenal could win the league.
“And that’s not looking smart after the event because City had lost, but I just thought he [Guardiola] is messing around; he’s tinkering far too much.
“I don’t know why Kevin De Bruyne isn’t playing; I don’t know why Ilkay Gundogan is not playing; I don’t know why Ruben Dias is not back in the centre of that defence with Aymeric Laporte to make them solid.
“I saw the team, and I thought, from the point of view of my prediction – which is that City will catch Arsenal – I was less sure on Sunday than I’ve ever been.
“I was pretty certain two weeks ago, I was actually certain on Saturday afternoon, I thought, “Right, City will do it proper tomorrow, this will be a proper champion’s performance, he [Pep] won’t mess around,” but if he carries on doing what he’s doing.”
He added: “This is the stuff that we’re seeing in the last couple of weeks that makes me think my prediction could be wrong. And it’s not because of what Arsenal are doing; it’s actually what City are not doing.
“I’m not saying Arsenal haven’t had a great season. But you cannot, if Man City are purring, win the league off Manchester City, in my opinion.’
“I still think City will win the league, but the fact we’re even talking about Arsenal winning the league is a miracle from where I thought they would be at the end of last season.”
Jamie Carragher has also backed the Gunners to win the Premier League.
He said: “I’ve tipped them for the title because I’m not sure Man City can get back to their best.
“The longer Man City are like this, the more breathing space Arsenal have got. That buffer Arsenal have right now is quite sizable. I think they will hold on.
“You don’t look at City and think they’re going to win every game. It doesn’t feel like they’re quite there right now. Arsenal are in a really good position.”
