At a Glance:
- Premier League title is down to a tense two-horse race between Arsenal and Manchester City
- Wayne Rooney predicts one of these teams will win until the end of the campaign
- Joe Hart offers an alternative stance
Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Fulham has many looking at the Gunners with the belief they are the title favourites yet again, despite Manchester City closing in rapidly.
Some tweaks made by Mikel Arteta—including introducing Myles Lewis-Skelly into the midfield three and setting up to play to striker Viktor Gyokeres strengths—have given fans of Arsenal much to rave about, and a lot for their Mancunian rivals to ponder on.
Manchester City must win against Everton on Saturday night in order to keep on the same pace in terms of points with Arsenal, and any mistakes now for either team could decide the title.
But Manchester United and Premier League icon Wayne Rooney suspects that neither team will go undefeated for the rest of the season, and that one of Arsenal or Man City will slip up before the campaign comes to a close.
READ MORE: Bukayo Saka delivers again when Arsenal need him most
Wayne Rooney states Arsenal will ‘win’ the 2025/26 Premier League title
Speaking on Match of the Day alongside Joe Hart on who they think will have lifted the Premier League trophy by the end of May, Wayne Rooney offered words that will give any Arsenal fan confidence.
“I think Arsenal will win [the title race]. I felt it after Manchester City beat Arsenal as well… it was maybe [getting into Arsenal players’ heads] having to go to [play] Manchester City, [after] losing in the cup final to them.
But, I think, still being there level on points, after that City defeat… the fixtures were more favourable for Arsenal. I think they will win every game, and I can see City slipping up,” said the ex-England international.
Arsenal’s next three games are against West Ham, Burnley, and Crystal Palace,all teams that are in the bottom half of the table, therefore providing Mikel Arteta’s men with a fairly easy run-in.
Manchester City’s final five games of the year, including the two in hand, will come against Everton, Brentford, Crystal Palace, Bournemouth and Aston Villa—the only team not in the top-half of the table being Palace— means that City have a significantly more challenging run until the end of the year.
But one City icon is still positive…
Joe Hart predicts Manchester City to get the better of Arsenal
Immediately coming in after Rooney backed Arsenal, ex-City goalkeeper Joe Hart contrasted his ex-international teammate by saying:
“I don’t care who Arsenal are going to lose to. I look at Manchester City, their spine is so strong. It’s either full of multiple [title] winners, or people keeping those winners out of the team… I’m talking Rodri, Bernardo Silva, Erling Haaland—that is who I want to be a part of in a title run-in team… and don’t forget who is behind it all, [Pep Guardiola]… I think they’ll do whatever needs to be done.”
