Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville remains steadfast in his belief that Arsenal can win the Premier League title, despite their recent stumble. The Gunners have gone winless in their last three matches, losing to Newcastle and falling seven points behind league leaders Liverpool. However, Neville believes this blip could be a blessing in disguise, forcing Arsenal to regroup and emerge stronger.
Speaking on his podcast, Neville stated, “I still have them winning the title, and this might be what they need to win the title.” He acknowledged the potential for his prediction to backfire, but believes that adversity can often be a catalyst for success. Drawing parallels to other title-winning teams, Neville pointed out that “Manchester City aren’t quite right, Liverpool aren’t perfect – sometimes you just need this little bit of a serious blip.” He added that Arsenal’s recent struggles, attributed to a combination of injuries and red card suspensions, could be overcome once key players return after the international break.
Neville urged Arsenal to embrace the challenge and avoid self-pity: “There is an element of Arsenal just feeling a little bit sorry for themselves that they’ve got a few injuries. We’re not interested. Come on. You can win the league title. This is where you become a hero. It’s where you become Arsenal legends. No one’s interested in whether you’ve got a few injuries for a part of the season. Those players will come back. Don’t wait for them. That’s when you really want to be flying.”
While Neville remains optimistic about Arsenal’s prospects, fellow Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher is less confident, highlighting the significance of Arsenal’s upcoming match against Chelsea. He believes a defeat could widen the gap at the top, making it more challenging for Arsenal to mount a title challenge. “They’re not out of the race, but I do think the weekend’s game at Chelsea is huge for them. It’s a massive game,” Carragher stated.
Carragher acknowledged Arsenal’s challenging away fixtures so far this season, but he remains concerned about their ability to stay in contention if they fail to secure a positive result against Chelsea. He believes a loss coupled with wins by Liverpool and Manchester City could leave Arsenal with a 10-point deficit. However, he also acknowledges that a strong performance against Chelsea could keep them within striking distance of the top.
Carragher also expressed concerns about Manchester City’s midfield depth following Rodri’s season-ending injury. While he still sees City as favorites for the title, he believes they may need to strengthen their midfield in the January transfer window if they are to achieve their goals. He pointed to the performance of Mateo Kovacic and Ilkay Gundogan, both over 30, against a high-energy Bournemouth side as evidence of a potential weakness in City’s midfield. “I think it would be really interesting if Manchester City go back into the market in January, because I’m not sure, if those two stay in centre midfield between now and the end of the season, they can achieve what they want to,” Carragher said.
The Premier League title race remains fiercely competitive with multiple teams vying for the top spot. While Neville remains confident in Arsenal’s ability to win the title, the coming weeks will be crucial for their aspirations, particularly the match against Chelsea. The next few months will reveal whether Arsenal can overcome their recent blip and emerge as genuine title contenders, or whether their challenge for the trophy will fade away.
