Gary Neville is sticking to his guns and is backing Arsenal to win the Premier League title next season, just as he has done for the last two years.
The Gunners have finished second in the Premier League table for three seasons on the spin, with onlookers decreasingly impressed by their final position.
The 2022/23 season was the first time Arsenal had finished as high as second since 2016 and marked a return to being genuine Premier League title challengers.
However, this year’s second-place finish did not represent a real challenge for the title and saw Mikel Arteta’s men fall short of Liverpool rather than the previously dominant Manchester City.
While three seasons ago second place was impressive, this time round it has felt disappointing and there has even been talk of Arteta losing his job if he cannot show that improvement is coming soon.
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Neville is backing the Spaniard to make the step up, though, and thinks Arsenal will land the Premier League title next year.
‘I’ve got to go Arsenal again, I’ve got to double down, haven’t I?’ Neville said on The Overlap US.
‘I’ve gone there the last two seasons and they finished second in the last three seasons, actually. I didn’t back them the first season, I backed City, but I backed them the last two and I’m going to stick with them.’
Arsenal have not won the Premier League title since 2004 but it is a credit to how Arteta has improved expectations at the club that he now feels under some pressure to deliver a title next season.
The surprisingly brilliant performances of Liverpool under Arne Slot have made things all the more difficult for Arsenal, with few people expecting the Reds to shine so brightly so quickly under the Dutchman.
Liverpool were so impressive in finishing 10 points clear at the top of the Premier League table that they have been installed as favourites with the bookmakers to defend their title next season.
Arsenal are actually third in the betting, with Manchester City second behind the Reds to get their hands on the Premier League trophy.
The title race is expected to be a three-way battle, with something of a jump to Newcastle and then Chelsea in the odds.
2025/26 Premier League title odds
Liverpool 15/8
Man City 9/4
Arsenal 5/2
Newcastle 12/1
Chelsea 22/1
Man Utd 40/1
Aston Villa 40/1
Tottenham 50/1
Nottm Forest 150/1
Brighton 200/1
Bournemouth 300/1
Fulham 500/1
Leeds 500/1
West Ham 500/1
Crystal Palace 500/1
Everton 500/1
Wolves 1000/1
Burnley 1000/1
Brentford 1000/1
Sunderland 1000/1
Odds courtesy of Betfair
Arsenal legend Ian Wright has agreed with Neville in tipping the Gunners to land the big prize, although only if they make significant moves in the transfer market this summer.
Wright also admitted his bias when making the prediction on the Seaman Says Podcast via Betway, saying: ‘I think they’ll win the Premier League next season because I want them to do that and I believe that they’re getting closer. I think it’s unlucky this season, simply the injuries and some of the decisions.
‘But they’re going to need to make some signings to give them all a boost in there. But I’m going to go with Arsenal to win the League again. Absolutely.
‘Obviously, Liverpool are going to be a different entity. City can’t do what they’ve done again. Chelsea, now that they’ve got into Champions League, there might be signings.
‘It’s going to be a tougher league next year, but I’m going to say Arsenal are going to go and do it.’