Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville thinks Arsenal need to put down a marker against Manchester City on Sunday.
Speaking after the Manchester derby, Neville said that Pep Guardiola’s side will cause problems for the Gunners, but he feels it is up to Mikel Arteta’s men to step up to the plate in a big game and stamp their authority on proceedings.
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“If I’m looking at that from an Arsenal perspective, I’m thinking this is a game I’ve got to win. Arsenal are a better team currently and they’re more [an] all-round [side] than this Manchester City team.”
“But, they’re going to have problems in the game. You know, there’s no doubt that Manchester City are going to cause them problems because they’ve got too many good players. They’ve got to handle Haaland, they’ve got to handle Foden, Bernardo Silva and Doku – who have got real ability to be able to create moments.”
“Arsenal are going to have to play really well in this game, but balancing that defensive, sort of pragmatic solidity that they have, and we know they can deploy in big matches, and then having that ability to think ‘we’ve got to win this match’ and the mentality of winning the match. And that starts from the manager with his team selection, it starts with the players when they get on the pitch with a sort of element of just going for it in moments where they can, and not holding back – having that sort of expression.”
“That’s something different that they need to win big matches, and they’ve been good in big matches, this Arsenal team. I think it’s a game that Arsenal have to win.”
Arsenal thrashed City in the same fixture last season
Neville must have a pretty short memory, as he is talking like the Gunners never go for the throat in high-profile fixtures. Arteta’s team put 5 past the Cityzens in the corresponding game last campaign.
Nobody expects things to be as one-sided this time around, but you would still back the home team to get a result at the Emirates.
The bookies have made the home side strong favourites
Arsenal are currently odds-on at every bookmaker to grab the three points this weekend, with the price for a draw or a City win roughly the same at around 14/5.
In recent years, the Gunners have been pretty good at getting wins on the board at home against their “Big Six” rivals, and they will be favourites to secure victory on Sunday.
Read more about the Arsenal First Team Squad for 2025/26 here