GARY NEVILLE claims that Arsenal WON’T win the Premier League this season… despite going EIGHT points clear.
The Gunners extended their advantage at the top of the table by beating rivals Tottenham 2-0 yesterday.
Their victory, coupled with Manchester City’s defeat at Man United on Saturday, puts them in a commanding position to win their first title since 2004.
But Neville, 47, even reckons that the Red Devils, currently nine points off the pace, will catch Arsenal.
Speaking on Sky Sports, he said: “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.
READ MORE ARSENAL NEWS
“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.
“I’d love Man Utd to win it, but I don’t think that’s going to happen this season.”
Explaining his reasoning, Neville pointed to City’s star striker.
Most read in Football
FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS – BEST NEW CUSTOMER OFFERS
He continued: “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.
“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.
“At some point, there will be a very difficult period for Arsenal this season.
“Is it conceivable that Arsenal 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.”
Despite his reservations over the credibility of Arsenal’s title credentials, Neville heaped praise onto their boss Mikel Arteta.
He added: “It’s so difficult for young managers to break that [Antonio] Conte, [Jurgen] Klopp, [Carlo] Ancelotti, [Pep] Guardiola, [Jose] Mourinho mould and become one of those super managers. You can’t break them.
“If Arteta wins the league this season, he breaks into that bunch. He’s doing it anyway, because his football is fantastic. But he needs to win that trophy.
Read More on The Sun
“So, fingers crossed that they do win it, if Man Utd can’t, which I don’t think they can, because I’d rather have that for the Premier League.
“Man City have won too many titles for me!”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
