Arsenal

Arsenal

Premier League • England

Gary Neville, Roy Keane rate Arsenal title chances after ‘freak’ City result; Arteta’s ‘feel-good factor’ praised

Gary-Neville Sky Sports August 2022

Gary Neville, Sky Sports pundit

Gary Neville and Roy Keane have been discussing whether Arsenal can pull off a shock and beat Manchester City to the Premier League title after they went four points clear at the top.

Arsenal beat Leeds United 1-0 at Elland Road on Sunday to make it nine wins from 10 league matches so far. However, it was far from a simple victory for Mikel Arteta’s side.

First of all, the game was postponed for around 40 minutes due to a power outage. Once play got underway, Bukayo Saka gave Arsenal a first-half lead by firing into the roof of the net from a tight angle.

Patrick Bamford thought he had equalised for Leeds early in the second half, only for his goal to be chalked off because of a push on Arsenal defender Gabriel.

Leeds were given a penalty when William Saliba handled the ball from a clipped Jack Harrison pass into the box. Bamford stepped up but dragged his spot-kick slightly wide of the post.

There was more drama in stoppage time when referee Chris Kavanagh sent Gabriel off for kicking out at Bamford. He also gave the hosts another penalty, only to overturn both decisions when rewatching the clash on the VAR monitor.

Arsenal ran out close 1-0 winners, while Liverpool did them a favour by beating Manchester City at Anfield. Mo Salah scored the only goal of the game on Merseyside, while City saw a Phil Foden goal ruled out for a foul in the build up.

The results mean Arsenal have a four-point advantage at the top of the table. Liverpool, meanwhile, have moved up to eighth and are now on 13 points.

Gary Neville tips City to overtake Arsenal

Following the Liverpool vs City match, Neville and Keane were asked about Arsenal’s title chances on Sky Sports. The pundits reckon City are still favourites to lift the trophy, as Neville labelled their defeat to Liverpool a ‘freak’ result.

“I still think they will [run away with the title]. I don’t think today changes it,” Neville said (via the Daily Mirror).

“This is a freak game playing at Anfield and I think, for City, it’s the most difficult game they have.

“I still think City will run away with it. I think Arsenal will come back towards Tottenham, Chelsea, Manchester United, Newcastle.

“And I think City will just go away. This season is a very different season as well. Post-World Cup, it could be completely different than it is now.”

Keane then gave his opinion on Arsenal and praised Mikel Arteta for creating a ‘feel-good factor’ at the Emirates.

“I still fancy City for the title, yeah. Arsenal have had a brilliant start to the season but it’s obviously a long way to go yet,” he said.

“You wouldn’t bet against Man City, they obviously won the title [last season] and are very, very strong.

“Arsenal have improved, [their] recruitment in the summer [was good]. They’ve got momentum, the feel-good factor at the club, plenty of energy in the club.

‘You’d have to still fancy City’, says Keane

“And, even today, they’re getting bits of luck with the penalty miss today, but you’d have to still fancy City.”

Arsenal have been very impressive so far this season and are rightly leading the way. However, their squad depth is not as good as City’s.

Due to this, a few injuries to important players could see Arteta’s men fall behind. City, in contrast, have plenty of top stars and will not be as badly impacted by such injuries.

As Neville mentions, the World Cup could be a turning point in the title race. City will have no worries about Erling Haaland’s fitness after the tournament as Norway did not qualify.

And if one of Saka, Gabriel Jesus or Gabriel Martinelli gets injured, Arsenal will become far less threatening.

Meanwhile, Arteta thinks Arsenal are on the cusp of ‘something special’ following their latest win.