Gary Neville: Premier League: Arsenal clear favourites as leadership of Gabriel is commended
Having experienced disappointment in the last three seasons, after missing out on the titles to Manchester City twice and Liverpool once, this season might be Arsenal’s time to be crowned EPL champions next year.
Reacting to Arsenal win over Crystal Palace last weekend via his podcast, Gary Neville has thrown heavy weight Arsenal to go all ahead and become the latest Premier League champions in May by saying, ‘it’s theirs to win, not lose.’
Stating further, Gary Neville said that this season’s Premier League title is for Arsenal following the defeat of Crystal Palace at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, courtesy goal from Eberechi Eze.
The win places the Gunners four points adrift the Premier League table as their close rivals continue to stumble week-in, week-out.
Over the weekend, Arsenal, who are now unbeaten since August, recorded their four consecutive wins, with Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea having lost, meaning that the closest team to the Gunners at the top are Bournemouth.
The Sky sports’ Neville also strong posits that Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta has finally introduced a pattern that may not be acceptably “spectacular”, but their best asset─resillience─will do well enough to reinstate the North London club as “the best in the country” after a series of second-place finishes.
“This has got to be their year,” Neville said.
“I’ve had Arsenal to win the league the last three years – now four.
“They aren’t miles better than last year but are repeating levels of consistency and that’s all they are going to have to do this year to win the league. They aren’t going to have to get 100 points, or even 90.
“High 80s will win the title ─they can do that.”
Watching closely the new Arsenal under Mikel Arteta, they are definitely building a matter on defensive foundation. Solidity and rigidity have been a method under the Spanish coach.
Arsenal have only conceded three times this season from nine games─recording six clean sheets in the process.
Tottenham, Sunderland, and Manchester City are their closest competitors in that regard, having all shipped seven since the start of term.
“Arsenal are reliable, you can trust them. They don’t concede goals,” Neville added.
“They don’t have a sensational forward, but they’ve got a battering ram who is as honest as the day is long and that can work for them.
“This is your title, Arsenal. I’ve never really felt that sure before, it’s so early in the season, but it really is. That’s not being overconfident, or placing pressure, they must feel it themselves. This is the moment Arsenal can get back on top.
“The chance is there for them; they have to take it.”
Carragher Commends Gabriel’s Influence
On the other hand, Neville’s fellow Sky Sports’ pundit and Liverpool legend, Jamie Carragher, lauds Arsenal defender Gabriel for is impact and influence off and on the pitch.
He also described him as the Premier League’s “most influential” player, citing his dominance in both boxes as a vital element of Arsenal’s recent success.
“It feels like set-pieces are going to continue to be a big theme. There is no team more primed to win the Premier League if this is the way the league is going,” he said on Sky Sports’ Extra Time show.
Arsenal Have Best Defensive Record In The EPL
“This Arsenal team have been built to cope with situations like this, in terms of the height of the team and their power.
“For a long time I’ve said Arteta has been trying to win the league like a Jose Mourinho team. There is nothing wrong with that. The most important thing is winning.
“Gabriel is the leader. He’s a colossus at the back and the best set-piece threat. This happens every game. He’s the best defender in a team that produces the best defensive numbers.
“I think Gabriel is the most influential player in the Premier League right now.
“If Arsenal are to win the Premier League, he will be on course to win the PFA Player of the Year. He’s the No 1 contender.”
Further Analysis
Arsenal are already in siege mode in their pursuit of the Premier League title. Results have been made king, even when it just shows letting of aesthetic for effectiveness.
Howbeit, Arsenal’s summer recruit Eberechi Eze showed against his former club, Crystal Palace, why he could be a decisive factor in the club’s hunt for Premier League crown come May.
Ensuring the league is theirs this season, Arsenal are utilising maximum advantage they have in set-pieces. With the likes of William Saliba and Gabriel becoming a vocal points when it comes to dead-ball situations, against their previous seasons when they lacked ‘Plan B.’
Having Eze among the crop, it is as if Bukayo Saka had been eased of a burden. The only goal over the weekend came from the boot of Eze as a result of a set-piece but it’s just a technique and courage of a player who always delivers in the big moments.
Crystal Palace are familiar with that, and were made to recall of same scenario when he powered home a volley in the first half, scoring his first EPL goal for the Gunners.
“One hundred per cent Eze delivers the magic moments,” Arteta said.
“He’s certainly a big player and hopefully that’s going to give him a big boost and confidence to generate many more moments like this because that’s the moment that sometimes defines a season.”
The Gunners lack magic moment and that is what Eze is made up of.
