Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard is hoping to lift the trophy in May (Picture: Getty)
Gary Neville says the only way Arsenal will become Premier League champions this season is if they beat Manchester City on Sunday.
The Gunners are attempting to secure their first top-flight trophy in 20 years and sit top of the table with just 10 fixtures remaining ahead of the Etihad showdown.
Arsenal came painfully close to winning the league last term – leading the table for 248 days – the most for a team who failed to land the title in top-flight history.
Neville has backed Arsenal for glory all season and still feels Mikel Arteta’s side will get the job done – but only if they leave Manchester with all three points.
‘With the run-in, I think [Arsenal] have to win on Sunday,’ Neville said on The Overlap. ‘You always have to imagine that City are going to be perfect.
‘Unfortunately, we’re at the point in the season where they could win eight games on the bounce. I don’t think Arsenal will.
‘The reason I say you have to win is because I am not sure who else is going to take points off City on the journey. Of course, they could drop points, it’s football.
Man City have won five of the last six Premier League titles (Picture: Getty)
‘But that’s why I think [Sunday is] so important. City would be disappointed with a draw but I think to damage them, and to give you the full belief, I think you need to win.’
Neville feels that Sunday’s title battle, which Pep Guardiola has described as a ‘final’, can be a ‘beautiful game’ for the Gunners.
‘It’s a beautiful game for Arsenal,’ Neville added. In the sense… It’s a beautiful game for us to watch Arsenal, to think about the fact you go back 12 months, there is a direct parallel between last season and this season.
Mikel Arteta’s side beat Man City back in October (Picture: Reuters)
‘I always said at the end of last season, when they struggled, I wanted to see them in that situation again in the run-in against City, against the big teams and see how they handle it.
‘I think we all probably feel the same. We’re a lot more confident that Arsenal are going to handle this game better than they did last year.
‘This is the start of the run-in. It’s real. It’s happening now. Sunday, it’s huge. It’s a crossroads game. I think these games can sometimes signify or create history.
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‘As Arsenal, if you win on Sunday, you will look back on this game as the defining moment. I’m not saying it’s the only test.
‘You could win on Sunday and then lose three games. But I don’t think you would. I think if you won Sunday, the confidence and belief would be huge and City’s would be dented.
‘It’s a defining game for those players and manager. He’s got to show and demonstrate that he can live with Klopp and Guardiola and handle these big moments.’
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