Gary Neville doubts Arsenal’s Premier League title credentials due to reputation for ‘crumbling’

Gary Neville is no convinced that Arsenal will mount any serious threat to Manchester City‘s pursuit of a third consecutive Premier League title, despite the flying start made by Mikel Arteta’s side. 

The ex-Manchester United right-back insisted on The Overlap that the Gunners have shown in recent years a propensity to ‘crumble’ at the tail end of the campaign, and until they can prove otherwise he has doubts over their credentials. 

Arsenal have emerged as surprise contenders for their first Premier League win since the Invincible season in 2003-04, and although they can secure top spot at Christmas with a win over Wolves on Saturday, Neville still backs City to triumph. 

Gary Neville believes Arsenal still have a reputation of crumbling at the end of the season

‘The only thing Arsenal have proven in the last few years is that they crumble at the end of the season, until I see that they don’t, I’ll still have that doubt. Why would I not?

The Sky pundit claims it will be ‘unbelievable’ if Arsenal can ‘go all the way’

‘Manchester City will win the Premier League by 10-15 points this season. I’ve seen It before when you’ve got a team that’s so exceptional, we had that a few times with Manchester United when I was playing, where you just know a team just hasn’t got it in them to go all the way to challenge the top team. 

‘If Arsenal do that, it will be unbelievable, and I want City to be pushed, but it won’t happen.’

Despite the disappointment of last season’s climax, which saw the target of Champions League football ripped away in the final few games, the Gunners have been sensational this season. 

In 13 Premier League games they have been beaten just once, a 3-1 loss to Manchester United, and drawn once against Southampton, leaving Arsenal top of the table on 34 points – their best ever start. 

And with victories already over three of their other five ‘Top six’ rivals, the talk has slowly transitioned from tongue-in-cheek suggestions of success to genuine backing for Arteta’s side to go the distance. 

The Gunners are top of the Premier League with 34 points from 13 games – their best ever haul

However, Neville is still unconvinced, and believes that football fans will still be left guessing until ‘February and March’ when they will get a glimpse of ‘what Arsenal are made of’. 

‘I watched the first half of the Chelsea and Arsenal game – I didn’t see much of the second half, but Arsenal’s first half display was fantastic,’ he added on the Overlap. ‘The authority they had on the game, they looked by far the better team and it was a proper performance from Arsenal.

‘I saw Manchester United at Stamford Bridge a couple weeks ago and they were nothing like that. Chelsea aren’t in the strongest of moments, but Arsenal are doing everything right in this moment of time.

However Neville believe Erling Haaland and Manchester City will still win by ’10-15 points’

‘Last season we had our reservations about Mikel Arteta, but we wanted to be proved wrong because I like the manager and his style of football. 

‘We have 25 matches left in the season, with the massive disruption of the World Cup, but I do see Arsenal getting in the top four this season. 

‘If Arsenal lose a couple games and the teams below you win those games, the pressure now ramps up and that is when we’ll find out if Arsenal can handle the pressure. The big moment will come in February and March where we will see what Arsenal are made of.’