Gary Neville believes “pretty football” is unlikely to win the Premier League this season – as Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool fight it out at the top of the table.
After 13 games, Arsenal sit top of the Premier League after their last-gasp victory over Brentford on Saturday. It came just hours after Manchester City and Liverpool played out a 1-1 draw at the Etihad.
Both Liverpool and Arsenal are expected to be the closest challengers to City’s throne, with Guardiola’s side having won five of the last six Premier League titles.
However, both Neville and fellow Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher have noticed how the Gunners have implemented a more “pragmatic and less eye-catching” style of play in an effort to bring a first league title to North London since 2003.
Speaking on Monday Night Football, Carragher highlighted how Arsenal, according to statistics, have shifted from the ‘second-best’ attacking side in the Premier League last campaign to the ‘sixth-best’ this time around. However, this term their defensive numbers have improved to the point where they are judged to be the ‘best’ in the division.
Replying to a clip of Carragher’s analysis on Monday Night Football, Neville agreed with his fellow pundit, writing: “In my opinion this team is far more likely to win the league than last year’s.
“They weren’t capable of playing below par last year and amassing these points. City were less attractive to watch last year than in previous years but won the treble.
“I see this with Arsenal this year in regards to the league. Perfect, pretty football is unlikely to win the league unless it’s combined with a doggedness and resilience. Arsenal are better this year in these areas and the football will come in due course.
“They have power about them and functionality that makes them a real threat. This could all be tosh but that’s how I’m reading them right now after a third of the season.”
