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What's been said about Man City's Premier League run-in as Arsenal given clear title verdict

Roy Keane former Manchester United player & TV Commentat
Roy Keane has offered his verdict on the Premier League title race -Credit:2024 Crystal Pix/MB Media


The race for the Premier League crown is in full swing, with several former players and pundits, such as Roy Keane, Ian Wright, and Emmanuel Adebayor foreseeing Manchester City securing their remaining fixtures and reigning supreme.

Man City have their sights firmly set on a historic fourth consecutive title. A full house of victories in their remaining fixtures would confirm them as Champions once more.

Meanwhile, faltering performances from Liverpool and Arsenal with losses to Crystal Palace, Everton and Aston Villa respectively, see them lagging behind.

Notwithstanding their recent defeat, Arsenal have claimed top spot in the table by a solitary point. However, they've played an additional fixture following their 3-2 triumph over Tottenham on Sunday.

Manager Mikel Arteta will attempt to maintain the pressure on his ex-side, but there's a prevalent belief that Man City will remain unswerving, reports the Manchester Evening News.

Emmanuel Adebayor, Premier League Productions

"This Arsenal team is very young and talented, but if you ask me now if I am sure they are going to get nine [points] out of nine, then I am not sure, because anything can happen."

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Roy Keane, Sky Sports

"We saw a couple weeks ago, against Aston Villa, we all thought they would win that game, they ended up losing 0-2 at home which made it difficult.

"But when it comes to Man City, if you ask me if I think they can win their next 20 games, I would tell you with confidence, yes, because how they approach the game, they have some experienced players.

"If Spurs play like [they did v Arsenal] against Man City, with the big man [Erling Haaland] coming back full of confidence, scoring, looking sharp, looking fit, then it will be very, very difficult for them."

Ian Wright, Sky Sports

"It's a really good habit they've got from over the last few years, winning football matches. I think City will win every game now.

"I think so [that the Forest match was City's biggest hurdle]. I think the title is City's now."

Tim Sherwood, Premier League Productions

"[The Spurs result] would have been relief more than anything because they know they can't afford to lose any games. You look at City and it looks like City can win all of theirs [fixtures], I'll say we can win all of them.

"Bournemouth will be the toughest one. We've seen how open Man United are, we might be able to go there and be disciplined and beat them. Everton are safe. You think Bournemouth will be the one, but again you look at Man City's games and I don't know who is going to stop them."

Gary Neville, Sky Sports

"I think Arsenal will win their last three [matches], but I don't think it will be enough. I just think Man City will win their last four."

He also added: "I know Tottenham's not a good ground for Man City, but the way Tottenham played today [in the 3-2 defeat to Arsenal], if they leave the same spaces for Man City, they are going to get exploited."

Paul Merson, Sky Sports

"You never know what is going to happen at Old Trafford. It can be a graveyard for teams. Even with the way Manchester United are at the moment, you have to regard that as a massive match."

He continued: "Teams have won at Old Trafford that have been in the bottom half of the table, but teams in the top half of the table have gone there and struggled."

Reflecting on recent results, he noted: "Liverpool famously in the last month or two have lost an FA Cup quarter-final there and they drew in the league and that was probably the start of Liverpool's downfall. You can never underestimate a game at Old Trafford."

On Arsenal's chances, Merson believes: "I think they [Arsenal] will achieve a 100 per cent record. The one doubt is the Old Trafford game. It will all depend for me on how City do in the next week or two as well."

Micah Richards, Sky Sports

"I can't see Man City not winning any of their games. Wolves are not at full strength. Fulham's the one. They're the team who might hurt them. If City give Fulham the chances they gave Forest, they can cause problems. But City just seem to become a better team when they have to win a match.

"Spurs can trouble Man City. They have done before. The way they play, how aggressive they are with the press, in transition, got pace on the wings. That's the game I'm looking at."