Arsenal host Manchester City in a huge clash at the Emirates on Sunday afternoon, and two pundits have made their predictions ahead of the game.
The Gunners sit six points above the Citizens and six points adrift of Premier League leaders Liverpool, who have a game in hand.
While Arsenal cruised past Girona in the Champions League in midweek, a significant victory is needed to boost morale around the North London club.
Spirits are low due to the club’s lack of activity in the transfer market, but three points against heated rivals could help to alleviate this negative atmosphere to an extent.
Ian Wright and Gary Neville make Arsenal v Man City prediction
City travel to N5 with an embarrassment of riches in attacking areas, while Arsenal are currently short in this department.
Bukayo Saka is out until at least March with a hamstring issue, while Gabriel Jesus will miss the rest of the season with an ACL injury.
This means that Mikel Arteta will be forced to call upon the likes of Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz again, both of whom look fatigued.
Despite the threadbare nature of the Gunners’ squad, both Ian Wright and Gary Neville have predicted Arteta’s side to overcome Pep Guardiola’s outfit.
Speaking on this week’s episode of Stick to Football, the two pundits were asked to predict the outcome of the encounter.
Neville said: “We’re going for a controversial one because I’m feeling this, Arsenal 3-0 City.
“We fancy Arsenal strongly here.”
Meanwhile, Wright responded, authoritatively: “2-1 Arsenal.”
The former players’ confidence may come as a surprise to Arsenal fans, given how exhausted the North Londoners’ squad has looked in recent matches.
City have also returned to form in the last few weeks, beating the likes of Ipswich, Chelsea and Club Brugge, all with relative ease.
It’ll no doubt be a difficult game for Arteta’s men.
Ian Wright thinks Arsenal will make ground on Liverpool in title race
As well as predicting the outcome of Arsenal’s match against City, Wright and Neville were quizzed on their thoughts ahead of Liverpool’s trip to Bournemouth.
The Cherries come into the game in electric form, having not lost in the league since mid-November.
Andoni Iraola’s side are toying with a place in the top four, and could well cause cause an upset at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Predicting the result of the south coast outfit’s showdown with Liverpool, Wright said: “2-1 to Bournemouth, I’m going to always back Bournemouth.”
If the legendary Arsenal striker’s predictions do come to fruition, the Gunners will be just three points behind Liverpool in the league at the end of the weekend, in what could certainly be a turning point in the title race.
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