He didn’t trust Arsenal last season, this year Gary Neville sees him for the title

The traditional pre-season predictions by Sky Sports experts offered one big surprise. Although most of the English public favour Manchester City in the title fight, Gary Neville sees it differently. And that’s shocking given the recent past.

Even when they were leading by five or even eight points, he didn’t believe in a Gunners victory. Therefore, the former outstanding midfielder was made fun of by the English public as he was the only one favouring Manchester City throughout last season.

Fellow Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher was of the opinion that as a former Manchester United player, he did not wish Arsenal success. But time has proven his predictions to be correct.

It was all the more surprising this year when Neville ranked Arsenal first in his prediction for the season ahead. He argued that the trio of Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber were the quality signings that the team was missing.

“I think Arsenal will win the league, Citizens will be second. If I had to bet my life, I’d choose City, but otherwise I trust Arsenal,” Neville said on Sky Sports’ YouTube show.

Neville, along with his colleague Carragher and Sky Sports expert Karen Carney, picked the entire Top 6, the relegated teams, the top scorer, the most successful transfer and the biggest pleasant surprise alongside the top spot.

Taking Neville’s words into account, he included midfielder Rice, who joined the Gunners from West Ham, in the “best transfer” column. Carragher chose Tottenham’s James Maddison and Carney chose new Red Devils number one Andre Onana.

But Neville’s prediction, built on quality reinforcements, collapsed slightly. Timber will miss a large part of the season due to a first round injury. And second left back Oleksandr Zinchenko isn’t 100 percent ready either.

Source: Sky Sports