Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville has delivered a stark verdict on the Premier League title chase, insisting it remains a contest between only two teams and ruling out high-flying Aston Villa.
Neville draws the line at the top two
Speaking after Villa's victory over Manchester United, the eight-time Premier League winner was blunt in his assessment. Despite Unai Emery's side sitting just three points behind leaders Arsenal after 17 matches and riding a wave of seven consecutive wins—a run that included a victory over the Gunners themselves—Neville believes they will fall short.
"I'm drawing a line beneath the top two," Neville stated. "Aston Villa are there and should be respected but they're not going to win the league. I would be amazed if that happened. A lot would have to go wrong for Arsenal and Man City for Aston Villa to win the league."
The 'special' threat to Arsenal's lead
Neville identified reigning champions Manchester City, managed by Pep Guardiola and spearheaded by striker Erling Haaland, as the principal danger to Arsenal's bid for a first title in two decades. He described the duo as "very special" and the biggest obstacle for Mikel Arteta's side.
However, the Sky Sports pundit suggested that Arsenal's own fortunes could hinge on the fitness of key players. He pinpointed a potential injury to influential midfielder Declan Rice as a scenario that could prove more problematic for the league leaders than any dip in form.
Backing Arsenal to see it through
Looking ahead to the crucial final months, Neville expressed confidence in Arsenal's ability to handle the pressure, even suggesting they might extend their narrow two-point Christmas lead. "I actually feel like they're going to extend their lead in February and March and get a five or six-point cushion again," he predicted.
Addressing the common narrative of past Arsenal stumbles, Neville added: "I think it's their year even though they're getting closed down a bit. I might be embarrassed because I know City fans are getting confident and think they're close and Arsenal will bottle it. But I'm not sure that will happen this time."
His final thoughts centred on the ultimate test of endurance, stating that how Arsenal perform in March, April, and May will be the defining factor in their quest for Premier League glory.
