Former Manchester United star Gary Neville has identified a specific fixture involving Manchester City that might decide the Premier League title race, potentially crowning Arsenal as champions without them needing to step onto the pitch.
Speaking on his Sky Sports podcast, Neville predicted that City would likely drop points in their upcoming clash against Bournemouth. According to him, this slip-up could be the decisive moment that swings the title in Arsenal’s favor.
The Gunners recently secured a narrow 1-0 victory over West Ham, extending their lead over Pep Guardiola’s side to five points. With only two matches remaining—against Burnley and Crystal Palace—Arsenal are in a commanding position. Meanwhile, City still have three fixtures to play: Crystal Palace, Bournemouth, and Aston Villa.
Neville believes the trip to Bournemouth will prove too challenging for City. He stated, ‘I think City will defeat Palace, and Arsenal will overcome Burnley. But the title will be decided on Tuesday, May 19, when City fail to get the job done at Bournemouth.’
This assessment suggests that Arsenal could clinch the league title without even playing on that day, as a City loss would mathematically secure the championship for Mikel Arteta’s team.