Manchester United legend Gary Neville has explained why red-hot Arsenal won’t win the Premier League despite having led the pack for the most part of the first round.
Neville, who is now a pundit at SkySports, also backed Man United to finish above the Gunners despite being nine points behind them.
The former Red Devils captain believes that the Citizens aren’t yet at their best.
He claimed that, along the way, Arsenal will run out of steam and won’t be able to keep up with the pace of Manchester City.
NEVILLE ON WHY ARSENAL WON’T WIN THE LEAGUE
“They [Arsenal] won’t win the league,” Neville said on his podcast as quoted by SkySports.
“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.
“I’d love Man Utd to win it, but I don’t think that’s going to happen this season.
“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.
“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.”
But the former Valencia head coach went on to commend Mikel Arteta’s men for their performances this season. He said this is going to be a better season for them than what he predicted.
‘BETTER SEASON’ FORGUNNERS
“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.”
Arsenal are currently sitting at the summit of the table with 47 points in the bag after 18 matches.
Man City are second with 39 points while Newcastle and Man United are third and fourth respectively.