Arsenal have opened up a four-point gap at the top of the Premier League following Sunday afternoon’s win at Leeds and Manchester City’s 1-0 loss away to Liverpool. This victory for the Gunners has significantly amped up the claim for the club becoming true title contenders.<\/p>\n
Or could the sudden loss to Liverpool be just a blip for eventual winners Manchester City?<\/p>\n
Viewed from any perspective, the Gunners’ four-point gap at the top of the Premier League cannot be ignored as Arsenal widened that gap with their take-no-prisoners 1-0 win at Leeds United, followed by City\u2019s failure a few hours later to move back to within a point of the Gunners as they suffered their first defeat of the season at the hands of unfancied Liverpool.<\/p>\n
The loss was indeed a shock for City against a Liverpool side who have been uncharacteristically out-of-form this season, having manged just two wins from eight games before this clash. Importantly to the rest of the league, it was significant in showing that Pep Guardiola’s side\u00a0can indeed\u00a0be beaten, and it must have raised alarm bells for the heavy title favourites not to fall into complacency.<\/p>\n
However, Gary Neville begs to differ in opinion as the former Manchester United defender still expects the Citizens to run away with the title, despite City being four points behind Arsenal with over a quarter of the season gone. The popular pundit actually poured cold water over Arsenal’s chances, saying he expects them to regress towards the likes of Chelsea and Newcastle United.<\/p>\n
“I still think they will [run away with it], I still think they will and today won\u2019t change it, this was a freak game playing at Anfield,” Neville told Sky Sports.<\/p>\n
“For City, it\u2019s the most difficult game they have. I do think City will run away with it. Arsenal will come back towards Tottenham, Chelsea, United, Newcastle. I do think City will go away.”<\/p>\n
Former City star, Micah Richards, however was of a different inclination and disagreed with Neville as he provided a positive verdict on the Gunners’ title hopes. Many believe Arsenal will fall away because of their history of doing so in previous seasons, but the former City defender says this Gunners team is ‘different’ and that a couple of major injuries is the only thing stopping Arteta’s side.<\/p>\n
“Arsenal have been brilliant, you always expect them to drop off but this season, they\u2019re different, the energy,” said Richards.<\/p>\n
“The difference between City and Arsenal is City get a few injuries they play the same way. If they lose Jesus, Zinchenko – to a degree – Thomas Partey, all of a sudden they become a different team. As they are now, they\u2019re on a good run.”<\/p>\n
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