Gary Neville believes Arsenal will still edge Manchester City to the Premier League title but warned supporters to brace for a difficult final stretch.
Arsenal restored a five-point lead at the top after a 2-1 win over Chelsea on Super Sunday, following City’s win at Leeds. Pep Guardiola’s side, however, still have a game in hand that could cut the gap to two points. After the two-goal collapse at Wolves, Arsenal have steadied themselves with back-to-back London derby wins to keep City at arm’s length.
Neville praised the team’s response to the Molineux setback, saying their resilience and the lessons of recent near-misses will carry them through the closing fixtures. He warned fans to expect roughly 10 weeks of anxiety and hard work but urged them to enjoy the ride too, describing it as a thrilling, if uncomfortable, run-in.
He pointed to the value of experience and leadership in Arsenal’s dressing room as a key edge against Guardiola’s well-oiled City machine. While noting that some players, like Gabriel Jesus, already have title-winning experience, Neville questioned who within the squad will steady and compose the team during the most intense moments. Still, he believes the presence of seasoned winners gives Arsenal a realistic chance of finishing the job.
Neville identified fixture congestion as Arsenal’s biggest challenge. With the club still in contention in the Champions League and domestic cups, they could face as many as 21 matches in 87 days if they reach both the FA Cup and Champions League finals. Arteta’s summer signings, including Piero Hincapie, Martin Zubimendi and Viktor Gyokeres, have added depth, but careful rotation and injury management will be essential. Neville stressed that you cannot afford to discard the Champions League or a Carabao Cup final, so smart squad use will be crucial.
He suggested Arsenal may need to prioritise competitions, possibly trusting the second XI in the FA Cup to preserve energy for the league, Champions League and single-match finals like the Carabao Cup.
Mikel Arteta admitted to a nervous finale against Chelsea after a late, spectacular save from David Raya that kept the game intact. Arteta acknowledged the team did not dominate throughout and at times struggled, particularly when Chelsea were down to 10 men, but praised their ability to ride out tough patches when margins are so fine.
Jurrien Timber’s 66th-minute winner came from a corner and marked Arsenal’s 16th set-piece goal of the campaign, equalling the Premier League single-season record held by Oldham and West Brom, with nine league games still to play. Those dead-ball goals have been pivotal, coming during a week that also featured the comeback 4-1 victory over Tottenham.
Arteta reminded the squad of that Spurs turnaround when preparing for Chelsea, using the earlier comeback as proof they can endure and turn games around. For Neville, that blend of resilience, leadership and tactical management gives Arsenal the best chance of holding off City and claiming their first title in 22 years — even if the final 10 weeks are likely to be painful.