Premier League title race: I can’t see how Arsenal are wasting this opportunity, says Gary Neville | Football news
Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville says he cannot see how Arsenal “waste this opportunity” to win their first Premier League title in 22 years, as Manchester City face a tough trip to Bournemouth on Tuesday night.
Pep Guardiola’s side need a win at the Vitality Stadium, live Sky Sportsto take the Premier League title race to the final day.
If they drop the points, the Gunners will be champions after their 1-0 win against Burnley Monday Night Football.
Winning the Premier League title has been a long time coming for Arsenal, and former defender Neville says being able to beat Guardiola’s Man City side to finally lift the trophy would be huge.
He continued to speak Gary Neville Podcast from the Emirates on Monday, he said: “The momentum they have, the excitement and anticipation, this has been going on for five, six years.
“This is not only this season, this team and the coach have been waiting and waiting for this moment when it is in their hands as there is one game left.
“They have withdrawn two or three times in the last four seasons where they have just fallen behind and the big question I was asking myself is whether they can get over the line because if they don’t do that, trust me, it becomes a big problem.
“It will tell you. If Mikel Arteta becomes a champion manager, that’s a change.
“Suddenly, the authority they have, that they can go a long way and beat Guardiola’s Manchester City team to win the title, that’s not a bad thing.
“They are on the edge now, I don’t see how they will waste this opportunity.”
Kai Havertz’s first-half strike was enough for Arsenal to beat already relegated Burnley, moving them five points clear at the top of the Premier League.
Discussing the game, Neville said: “They did a typical Arsenal job this season, given what they faced, but they seemed calm until the end.
“They were very comfortable defending a 1-0 lead… they are really patient, they are solid, they are reliable defensively, they trust their goalkeepers, their defenders, Declan Rice in front of them – and at the moment they are a very strong defensive team that is difficult to break down.
“It’s really difficult to play that way, so I have a lot of praise for them but they don’t make it difficult for them. They play Burnley at home and the urgency and the ability to play forward quickly and make sure you drive results 2-0. Then you can start playing and rest, but 1-0 I think you’re asking for help.
“Burnley couldn’t cause them a problem and that will be enough to get them over the line. Arsenal have done the job and they can relax and watch Man City go to Bournemouth, and that is difficult for Man City. It is difficult because they are coming off the back of the cup final, but Bournemouth are a very good team.
“That’s right [Andoni] It’s Iraola’s last game in Bournemouth at home and they can still qualify for the Champions League, so it’s a game where they have more. I think we can see the champions tonight and they may be champions when we get to Selhurst Park on Sunday. “
Of course, Man City are no strangers to winning the Premier League title on the final day of the season, and Neville thinks they should keep Arsenal “honest” in the ongoing race.
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Speaking on the Gary Neville podcast, the former Manchester United defender believes the final day of the Premier League season could be an interesting one, if Pep Guardiola’s men are to emerge victorious against Bournemouth.
He added: “I have a lot of respect for Man City and what they’ve achieved in the last 10 years, what Pep Guardiola has done. If they could go to Bournemouth tomorrow night and win, that would be really big, because they have to think it’s from them.
“But we always said, keep the opposition honest. Keep Arsenal honest. Pep Guardiola will be saying, ‘you saw them against Burnley, when they go to Crystal Palace on Sunday, there will be no mercy there’.
“If it’s 1-0 at Crystal Palace with five minutes to go and the home fans are there and there’s a corner, before you know it, the league can go away from you.
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“Man City have won that way before, so it’s about them doing their job [on Tuesday] and that’s a big question because even at their best, Bournemouth is a tough place to go.
“They can win there. They have very good players, but that’s the big thing. I can see both teams winning on Sunday, I really do, but the big question is whether it goes to Sunday – and whether City can beat Bournemouth.”
