Gary Neville expects the Premier League title race to be concluded before the end of the season as he hinted at Arsenal potentially dropping points against Man United and labelled Man City’s run of perfect form as ‘inevitable’.
Arsenal and City continued their game of leapfrog at the Premier League summit over the weekend as the reigning champions thrashed Wolves, while Arsenal eased past Bournemouth.
The Gunners remain top with a one point advantage over Pep Guardiola’s side who are attempting to win a fourth consecutive top-flight crown, however, the Manchester chasers have a game in-hand that if they win would put them out of Arsenal’s reach.
Neutral supporters hope the two-horse race to the title keeps going until the final day of the season – Sunday May 19 – but former Man United title-winner, Neville, expects it to be over before then.
Arsenal have to beat United at Old Trafford in the penultimate game of the season and Neville admitted he could see the Gunners dropping points that would give Man City a chance to storm ahead at the top of the Premier League.
Gary Neville expects the Premier League title race to be concluded before the end of the season as he hinted at Arsenal potentially dropping points
Man City maintained pressure on Arsenal at the top of the table by thrashing Wolves 5-1 on Saturday
City boss Pep Guardiola is aiming to win a fourth consecutive Premier League title while Mikel Arteta is attempting to clinch a first with Arsenal
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Meanwhile, City face a midtable Fulham prior to travelling to face their bogey team, Tottenham, before hosting West Ham on the final day of the campaign, but Neville admitted there is an ‘inevitability of City’ that breathes confidence about their title ambitions.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Neville said: ‘A few weeks ago when I said they had to be perfect and they have just had that one slip-up against Aston Villa, there’s an inevitability of City at this stage of the season, getting the job done, knowing what they need to do.
‘They have got that difficult game against Spurs on paper in 10 days but the way Spurs are at this moment in time I think it will be difficult for them against a City side playing for the title, it will be a difficult proposition.
‘As I sit here this weekend, Arsenal and City played really well and did their jobs but you wonder where the title race is going to twist. Where is the twist? City don’t give you twists,’ continued Neville.
‘You always said in years gone by, there will be a twist and turn, something will happen, I’m not sure it is going to happen. What normally happens in these moments is if City win on the Saturday, Arsenal drop points on the Sunday and City win the title on the Tuesday.
Arsenal must travel to face Manchester United at Old Trafford in their penultimate game of the season
Neville believes Man United could deal a fatal blow to Arsenal’s Premier League ambitions
‘That’s what normally happens, it may go to the final day and if it does then it means Arsenal have beaten Man United at Old Trafford. If Arsenal go win at Old Trafford that’s a hell of a win,’ he added.
If Arsenal fail to take three points away from Old Trafford, then City could seal the title on the following Tuesday, May 14, an outcome that Neville see’s as becoming more likely.
‘I have that fear the title race could be over a week on Tuesday. I want the title race to go to the final day, my fear is it won’t if City win on Saturday against Fulham and United take points off Arsenal on the Sunday.
‘Arsenal have already proven they are a different side than last season but just feels like an inevitability City will be perfect until the end,’ he added.
