Gary Neville has repeated his prediction that Arsenal will win the Premier League title after watching several of their main rivals struggle during the opening round of fixtures.
The former Manchester United defender made his comments after Liverpool were held to a dramatic 2-2 draw away at Newcastle United in Sunday’s late Premier League game.
Liverpool and Manchester City face difficult starts
Liverpool managed to avoid defeat thanks to a very late equaliser. Dominik Szoboszlai converted a penalty in the 99th minute to secure a point for the Reds after Newcastle had threatened to take all three.
Manchester City also endured an uncomfortable afternoon. Pep Guardiola’s side fell behind against Bournemouth at the Etihad Stadium before recovering to claim a 2-1 victory.
For Neville, those performances highlighted how uncertain the early stages of the season could become, particularly with several leading clubs adjusting to new players and managerial changes.
Neville believes Arsenal have a major opportunity
Speaking on Sky Sports, Neville argued that Arsenal should be capable of taking advantage of the problems affecting their rivals. He pointed to defeats for Tottenham and Manchester United, Liverpool’s narrow escape at Newcastle and City’s difficult home victory as evidence that the usual contenders are not yet operating at their best.
Neville said the unpredictable opening weekend largely matched what he had expected before the season began. However, he believes Arsenal are in a stronger position than the teams around them and should therefore be considered favourites for the championship.
The former England international went as far as suggesting that Arsenal ought to win the league comfortably if they can maintain consistency while their rivals continue adapting to significant changes.
