Gary Neville makes ‘wild prediction’ as he picks between Arsenal and Man City

Gary Neville has backed Arsenal to finally down Manchester City at the Etihad in their potential title decider and prove themselves as the Premier League champions

Gary Neville admits he’s made a “wild prediction” but believes Arsenal will go to Manchester City and win to prove that “they are champions”.

The Gunners remain the Premier League leaders by five points having played a game more than their closest challengers. Mikel Arteta’s side dropped points in midweek but returned to winning ways with a thumping win over Tottenham on Sunday.

However their draw at Wolves means that City now have the title in their own hands. Should they win their game in hand and down Arsenal at the Etihad in April then they can overhaul the north Londoners once again.

Arsenal have sat top for much of the campaign and looked champions elect at times. Their season and their ambitions could hang on whether or not they can beat Pep Guardiola and co in their own backyard. It is one stadium they haven’t won at during their rise but Neville believes they’ll get the monkey off their back as he recalled statement goals from Arsenal against his Manchester United side.

He said on his podcast: “I always think when Arsenal came and won titles, the Overmars goal, the Wiltord goal. They’re killer goals. They silence a city, not just a ground. You go to Man City that day and you’re absolutely going to silence them to the core if you win. On the other hand, if City beat you up, like they did three years ago, it rocks you the other way.

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“It is about jostling for position, if you’re Mikel Arteta making sure you’ve got a cushion going into that game it gives him some comfort. I don’t do predictions, I’m pretty poor at them, but this is the year they’ll go and win at City.

“That will be where you really do recognise that they are champions. But that’s a wild prediction about a game and by then a lot would’ve happened. But that’s how I see the season going.

“I’ve thought City might come back at them, they might even go past them, but they will drop points. They’re going quite right themselves. Against Newcastle, they weren’t hanging in, but it was a bit too close for comfort. They’re not as dominant or as controlling as they were.”

Before their potentially title-defining clash in Manchester the two teams will square off in the Carabao Cup final as they bid to win the first piece of silverware of the season. Plenty see it as a huge boost for whoever gets over the line, potentially harming the other.

Neville though claimed Arsenal can “box it off” if they are edged out narrowly by City, who have a sensational record in the competition under Guardiola.

City play before the Gunners once again next weekend with the Manchester outfit heading to Leeds. They can close to within two points of Arteta’s side before they host Chelsea.

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