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Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville said he could not see how Arsenal “waste this chance” of winning their first Premier League title in 24 years, as Manchester City faced a tough trip to Bournemouth on Tuesday night.
Pep Guardiola’s side must win at the Vitality Stadium, live on Sky SportsTo take the Premier League title race to the final day.
If they lose the points, the Gunners will then be champions 1-0 home win against Burnley Monday Night Football.
A potential Premier League title win has been a long time in the making for Arsenal, and former defender Neville says the trophy would be huge to finally overcome Guardiola’s Man City side.
talking The Gary Neville Podcast From the Emirates on Monday, he said: “The momentum they’ve got, the excitement and the anticipation, it’s been five, six years in the making.
“It’s not just about this season. This team and this coach have been waiting and waiting for this moment where they have a game in hand.
“They’ve come back from them two or three times in the last four seasons where they’ve just come up short and the big question I’m asking is can they get over the line because if they don’t trust me then it becomes a big problem.
“It will define you. If Mikel Arteta is a champion manager, it’s a game changer.
“Suddenly, the authority they have, the fact they can go the distance and they beat Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City side to win the title, it’s no mean feat.
“They’re on the brink now, and I don’t see how they’re going to waste this opportunity.”
Kai Havertz’s first-half strike was enough for Arsenal to beat already-relegated Burnley, giving them a five-point lead at the top of the Premier League table.
Discussing the game, Neville said: “They got the job done in a typical Arsenal way this season, with everything they gave themselves, but they looked cool at the end.
“They’re very comfortable defending a 1-0 lead… They’re really patient, they’re tough, they’re reliable defensively, they trust the goalkeeper, their centre-back, Declan Rice up front – and at the moment they’re a very strong defensive unit that’s hard to break down.
“It’s really difficult to play like that, so I’ve got praise for them but they don’t make it half as difficult for themselves. They’re playing Burnley at home and the importance and ability to play fast forward and make sure you get the result 2-0 up. Then you can start playing and relax, but 1-0 I think hurts you.
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Highlights of the Premier League match between Arsenal and Burnley.
“Burnley couldn’t trouble them and that will be enough to get them over the line. Arsenal have done the job and they can now relax and watch Man City go to Bournemouth, and it’s tough for Man City. Tough because they’re coming off the back of a cup final, but Bournemouth are a very good side.
“It’s (Andoni) Iraola’s last game at home to Bournemouth and they can still qualify for the Champions League, so it’s a game where they’ve got a lot in it. I think we see the champions there tonight and they could already be champions when we get to Selhurst Park on Sunday.”
Of course, Man City are no strangers to winning the Premier League title on the final day of the season, and Neville thinks they should keep Arsenal “honest” in their ongoing run.
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Speaking on the Gary Neville Podcast, the former Manchester United right back believes the Premier League final day of the season could be one of tears, if Pep Guardiola’s men can pull off a win against Bournemouth.
He added: “I’ve got a lot of respect for Man City and what they’ve achieved over the last 10 years, what Pep Guardiola has done. If they go to Bournemouth tomorrow night and win, it will be really big, because they must be thinking it’s slipped away from them.
“But we always said, keep the opposition honest. Keep Arsenal honest. Pep Guardiola would say, ‘You saw them against Burnley, when they go to Crystal Palace on Sunday, there will be no bias’.
“If it’s 1-0 at Crystal Palace with five minutes left and those home fans are there and have a corner, before you know it, the league can get away from you.
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“Man City have won like this in the past, so it’s about them doing their job (on Tuesday) and that’s a big ask because even if they’re at their best, Bournemouth is a tough place to go.
“They can win there. They have great players, but that’s the big one. I see both teams winning on Sunday, I really do, but the big question is whether it goes on Sunday – and whether City can beat Bournemouth.”
