Manchester United are impressing under Erik ten Hag (Picture: Getty Images)
Arsenal legend Nigel Winterburn has praised the consistency of Manchester United, saying the Red Devils have to be considered as part of the Premier League title race.
The Gunners still lead the way at the top of the table, two points clear of Manchester City and five ahead of United.
Mikel Arteta’s side also have a game in hand on both Manchester clubs, so they are in an excellent position, but Winterburn admits it has to still be considered a three-horse race.
Arsenal still have 15 league matches to play this campaign so there is an awful lot of football to come, and the former full-back thinks United’s consistency makes them a threat.
‘Manchester United are there because they’re showing a lot of consistency at the minute. They’re only five points behind Arsenal, albeit Arsenal have a game in hand still,’ Winterburn told talkSPORT, on behalf of OLBG. ‘You just don’t know what will happen with those games, but they are there.
‘Everyone is still looking at Arsenal and Manchester City, but you have to be respectful of the teams that are behind you especially if they’re showing the levels of consistency like Manchester United are doing right now.’
Arsenal bounced back to pick up an important win at Aston Villa on Saturday (Picture: Getty Images)
Arsenal and United both won at the weekend, while City surprisingly dropped points as they were held to a draw at Nottingham Forest.
Winterburn says it is those kind of results that will determine the title race, with the eventual champions likely to have avoided unexpected slip-ups more than their rivals.
‘There are going to be games where teams drop points when you least expect it, it’s already happened many times this season already,’ said the ex-Arsenal man.
‘Those games will define who wins the title. Everybody at this minute in time is playing catch up to Arsenal and as long as Arsenal maintains their own consistency then it puts pressure on the chasing teams.
‘It allows you to keep picking up points to keep that little bit of a gap between you and the teams behind. I think it’s going to be an intriguing end to the season.’
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The Red Devils are keeping themselves in the hunt.
