Gary Neville says Arsenal are ‘wobbling like crazy’ (Picture: Sky Sports)
Gary Neville says Manchester City will ‘smell blood’ as they prepare to meet title rivals Arsenal as the Premier League leaders are ‘wobbling like crazy’.
Arsenal had shown little sign of feeling the pressure in the title race before they dropped points in three straight games against Liverpool, West Ham and Southampton.
The Gunners, who have not won the league title since 2004, blew two-goal leads to draw 2-2 with Liverpool and West Ham, before needing two late goals to rescue a point against bottom-placed Southampton.
Desperate to get their title challenge back on track, Arsenal could not have picked a worse next game as they travel to the Etihad Stadium to face Manchester City on Wednesday.
Man City will close the gap at the top of the table to two points with a victory and would then still have two games in hand and a superior goal difference.
Neville feels Arsenal could benefit from being the underdogs in Manchester but fears they are finally crumbling in the title race.
Speaking after the thrilling 3-3 draw with Southampton, Neville told Sky Sports: ‘It’s the one game in the run-in that Arsenal are not expected to win.
The Gunners failed to beat bottom-placed Southampton at home (Picture: Getty)
‘So, can they condition their minds away from games where they are facing the bottom of the league in Southampton or West Ham, who are near the relegation zone.
‘This is the one game they have left where everyone will think Man City are favourites. Does that take the pressure off the Arsenal players and free their minds?
‘Because they have definitely got a little more tense in this last couple of games. There are things we are seeing that are not Arsenal-like from the rest of the season.
‘They haven’t got that freedom of play and they aren’t creating chances like they have done in the past.
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‘They did start to create chances in the final 10 minutes, but they didn’t create much for a lot of the second half.
‘It’s a mentality thing now. It is making sure they rest, what they do this weekend and how they look after themselves. But also getting into a mindset of thinking, actually City have to win on Wednesday because they are at home.
‘The Arsenal players have to go there and play with freedom and the excitement they have played with all season.
‘The worry is they are conceding goals and Manchester City are experienced and they smell blood.
Manchester City have been sensational since the World Cup break (Picture: Getty)
‘There are all the hallmarks here of a team that are wobbling like crazy going to the line.
‘They are looking fatigued, they are making mistakes, they look nervous and basically, they are not doing the things they have done in matches all season.
‘They are all the hallmark signs of a team that are struggling to get through it.
‘We’ll see what happens. It’s a magnificent game for them to look forward to but can they play at their best and with the freedom they could get by being underdogs.’
Manchester City had an indifferent start to the season but have looked sensational since the World Cup break and thumped Bayern Munich 4-0 on aggregate in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
Pep Guardiola’s side, who are aiming to win the Premier League for the sixth time since 2018, face Championship outfit Sheffield United in the FA Cup semi-finals this weekend before turning their attentions to Arsenal.
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta worked as Guardiola’s assistant before moving to the Emirates and said he ‘cannot wait’ for Wednesday’s clash.
‘These are the games you want to play,’ he said. ‘When everything is at stake and you have to go there to win.’
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It doesn’t get any easier for Arsenal…
