Gary Neville expects Arsenal to ‘extend their lead’ in the Premier League title race in the New Year before clinching a long-awaited title.
The Gunners, without a Premier League title since 2004, will sit top of the table at Christmas with a two-point advantage over second-placed Manchester City.
An Aston Villa side who have won ten matches in a row after Sunday’s win over Manchester United sit third under ex-Arsenal boss Unai Emery, within one victory of the current leaders.
Neville has consistently backed Arsenal to win the Premier League this season and still expects Mikel Arteta’s side to become champions for the first time in 22 years.
Villa have emerged as surprise title contenders in recent weeks but Neville has ruled Emery’s in-form team out of the title race, insisting only Arsenal and Man City can win the Premier League.
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Asked whether he was ‘drawing a line’ beneath the current top-three, Neville said on his Sky Sports podcast: ‘I’m drawing a line beneath the top-two.
‘Aston Villa are there and should be respected but they’re not going to win the league. I would be amazed if that happened. A lot would have to go wrong for Arsenal and Man City for Aston Villa to win the league.
‘The league is bizarre, I mean not the two-two, but beneath it. You’re not quite sure what to make of the other teams.
‘Man City are obviously. They’ve got Erling Haaland and Pep Guardiola, someone very special on the pitch and someone very special on the bench.
‘That’s the biggest threat to Arsenal other than them getting injuries to [Declan] Rice and a couple of other players.
‘I wouldn’t be too worried about Arsenal scraping through a few games, that’s going to happen at some point in this season.
‘They weren’t great at Everton but were they ever going to be amazing there? I think they’re in a good position.
‘What’s going to be really interesting is how they handle it once they get to March, April, May. That’s going to be really interesting.
‘But I actually feel like they’re going to extend their lead in February and March and get a five or six-point cushion again.
‘I think it’s their year even though they’re getting closed down a bit. I might be embarrassed because I know City fans are getting confident and think they’re close and Arsenal will bottle it.
‘But I’m not sure that will happen this time.’
Aston Villa were far from at their best against Manchester United on Sunday but clinched a 10th successive win thanks to Morgan Rogers’ brilliant brace.
Speaking after Villa’s latest victory, ex-Premier League striker Chris Sutton said on BBC Radio 5 Live: ‘I tell you what, why not Aston Villa for the Premier League title? If you’re a Villa fan, why not dream?’
Former England forward Sue Smith added: ‘You cannot say that they’re not in a title race because they just keep doing it.
‘We keep saying they’ve got a test, they’ve got another test, they’ve got another test but they just keep passing them.
‘It’s absolutely outstanding for Aston Villa and yes, they are [in the title race], aren’t they?’
Premier League leaders Arsenal, who beat Everton 1-0 last time out, return to action on Tuesday with a Carabao Cup quarter-final against Crystal Palace.
Manchester City, who won a record-breaking four successive league titles under Guardiola, face Nottingham Forest on December 27 while Aston Villa visit Club World Cup champions Chelsea.
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