Neville backs Arsenal to win Premier League by a street after opening weekend

Gary Neville has predicted Arsenal will win the Premier League title “by a street” after just one game of the new season, following the Gunners’ commanding 3-0 victory over Coventry City on the opening weekend.

Speaking on his podcast in the wake of Newcastle United’s 2-2 draw with Liverpool at St. James’ Park, the former Manchester United defender said the early results had only reinforced his belief that Mikel Arteta’s side are in a class of their own. “Arsenal should win this league by a street,” Neville said. “We’ve seen Tottenham get beaten, Man United lose, Liverpool nearly lose, Man City scrambling for a win at home… The unpredictable nature we thought we’d see at the top we have seen on this opening weekend.”

Arsenal arrive into the new campaign as defending champions, having ended a two-decade wait to lift the title last season. The club have further strengthened over the summer, with Bruno Guimaraes, Ezri Konsa, Piero Hincapie, Christos Tzolis, and Illan Meslier all arriving on permanent deals. The Gunners are also looking to go one better in the Champions League after falling to PSG in last season’s final.

Neville was notably downbeat about the prospects of Arsenal’s nearest rivals. Liverpool, now managed by Andoni Iraola, needed a late penalty to salvage a draw against Newcastle on the opening weekend — a performance Neville described as well short of title-winning standard. “They’re nowhere near a title-winning team, I don’t think,” he said. “The other big thing for Liverpool is they’ve got Isak and Wirtz who are going to have to start playing soon. We’ve been kind on them two. They need to start delivering and they need to improve.”

Manchester City under Enzo Maresca were also unconvincing, while Chelsea remain an unknown quantity with Xabi Alonso in the dugout. Michael Carrick’s Manchester United, meanwhile, were comfortably beaten by Hull City.

Neville acknowledged the wider unpredictability of the division below the summit, but his verdict on who will be lifting the trophy in May was unambiguous: Arsenal, and it won’t be close.