Manchester United icon Dwight Yorke does not fancy Arsenal to win the Premier League title this season, saying they will ‘do what Arsenal do again.’
Mikel Arteta’s side have enjoyed a strong start to the season, sitting pretty at the top of the table.
Eight wins and just one defeat from their 11 league matches have seen them open up an early four-point lead from second-placed Manchester City.
20 goals scored in 11 games is an excellent return, but their defence has been their real strength, conceding just five Premier League goals so far this season.
It is hard not to be impressed by Arsenal’s performances but Yorke is not convinced they will get the job done in the top flight.
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The Gunners have not won the Premier League title since 2004, finishing second in each of the last three seasons, and Yorke reckons they will fall short again.
‘I just think Arsenal will do what Arsenal do again,’ Yorke told Snabbare. ‘I have a funny feeling that somehow they won’t get it over the line.’
‘It depends on the competitions they are in too. I’m sure Mikel Arteta is going to prioritise everything. He’s trying to win it all but you’ve got to win your domestic league.’
With champions Liverpool struggling, Yorke fancies Manchester City to beat Arsenal to the famous trophy.
‘It could get pretty chaotic,’ he said. ‘I think Man City just have that know-how.’
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola talked up Arsenal’s title chances earlier this month, although his comments came before Arteta’s side dropped points in a 2-2 draw at Sunderland.
‘If they continue this way—they play games, they don’t concede goals, not even clear chances, and they win and win—oh my God, it will be almost impossible [to catch Arsenal], but always you expect you will be better and they can drop points,’ said Guardiola. ‘All we can do is win our games and be there close.
‘They have to come here, and there are many things in the season that we will experience.
‘It’s exceptional what they have been doing for two or three seasons. It looks like every time it’s closer.
‘But we are in early November, and early November nobody wins the title. You can lose it, but nobody wins the title.’
Things have already improved for Manchester City since those comments, with Guardiola’s side hammering Liverpool 3-0 after Arsenal’s draw at the Stadium of Light.
Manchester City have a tough assignment on Saturday evening at Newcastle as they hope to reduce the gap to just one point at the top of the table.
Arsenal host Tottenham on Sunday in the north London derby.