Former Manchester United defender and now Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville has predicted that Manchester City will go on to defend their Premier League title. Neville feels if the table-toppers Arsenal go on to win the title, it would be great for the league.
The Gunners are currently in a numero uno position with 15 wins in 18 matches and a total of 47 points. On the other hand, the Sky Blues are in second place with 12 wins in 18 games and a total of 39 points. City also lost their previous match against Manchester United by 2-1 at Old Trafford.
When asked if Arsenal is going to win the Premier League title, Gary Neville said on Sky Sports, “No. But I said Leicester wouldn’t win the league. They won’t win the league. Manchester City will win the league, and I think Man Utd will finish second, and I know that will annoy Arsenal fans!”
“I’d rather Arsenal win the league than Man City. I think it would be absolutely sensational for the Premier League. I think about watching the Premier League, we’ve seen City sweep up, apart from Liverpool, over the past five years. To think Arsenal could come and win it, it adds to our league, it makes our league great.”
However, the former England centre-back feels it will be tough to put the brakes on Manchester City when they will find their momentum.
“The reality of it is, I think at some point Man City will hit a run. Once they do, they’ve got to play Arsenal twice. With City, is Erling Haaland not getting the service, or does he need to do more? I’ll ask that question. “Does he need to do more, or does he need to be patient?”
“If Erling Haaland starts to kick on, if City start to purr, if the defence starts to shore up a bit more than it has done, and they need Ruben Dias back if they can, I think City will win it.”
Neville believes it will be difficult for Arsenal to keep up the good form throughout the season.
“At some point, there will be a very difficult period for Arsenal this season. Is it conceivable that they are going to continue as they are? I don’t think it is. Could they draw two and lose one in a three-game period, and if they did that, their lead is gone, and the pack is up with them?”
“That’s what I think is going to happen, we’ll see a traditional Premier League season where a team goes out, the pacemaker, and then they’ll get drawn back in a little bit. But I still think that this season is going to be far better for Arsenal than I ever imagined it would be.”
