Manchester City v Salford City - Emirates FA Cup Third Round
Scholes believes City have the advantage for one clear reason (Picture: Getty)
Paul Scholes believes Manchester City will beat Arsenal to the Premier League title due to having ‘a better goalkeeper and centre-halves’ than the Gunners.
Ahead of Wednesday night’s action, Arsenal have a five-point lead at the summit of English football thanks to their 2-1 victory over Chelsea on Sunday.
City host Nottingham Forest tonight while Mikel Arteta’s side are away to Brighton with focus shifting back to the FA Cup this weekend.
Arsenal’s draws with Brentford and Wolves this month have allowed City to move back within touching distance of the league leaders – with Pep Guardiola’s side also crucially having a game in hand. The two sides will also meet at the Eithad in late April.
City’s efforts to haul back their rivals were lifted in January with the signings of Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi.
Semenyo has scored six times for his new club already while Guehi has effortlessly slotted in at the back alongside Ruben Dias.
With Gianluigi Donnarumma playing a pivotal role in goal, Scholes believes City now boast a better unit at the back than Arsenal’s trio of David Raya, William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes.
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Ray Parlour predicts Arsenal's title charge
The Arsenal legend gazes into his crystal ball as the Gunners prepare for their final 10 league games of the campaign.
Chelsea (H)
These will have been two big games, against Tottenham and Chelsea in a week. If they get through them with two wins, that puts them in a very decent position.
The place will be buzzing. This will be the first weekend in a long time where they have had a week off too so they should start brightly. If you score first against Chelsea, they can crumble. They are a bit flaky at the back and they will give up opportunities. I don’t think too many of their players get into this Arsenal side.
Verdict? Arsenal win
Tottenham Hotspur v Arsenal - Premier League
Arsenal swept aside Tottenham in the north London derby (Picture: Getty)
Brighton (A)
Brighton are safe now in the middle of the table, not challenging for Europe, but comfortable. Those are the teams you want to be playing. So I'll go for a win.
Verdict? Arsenal win
Everton (H)
You’ve got to have that as a win.
Verdict? Arsenal win
Bournemouth (H)
Two at home in a row – I have to go for another win.
Verdict? Arsenal win
Arsenal v Leeds United - Premier League
Arteta will hope there is plenty more to celebrate this season (Picture: Getty)
Manchester City (A)
I always say, against your rivals, and this is what we always tried to do against Man United, win at home and draw away. So I’ll go for a draw. City will need to go out and win the game and we know Arsenal can hit you on the break.
Verdict? Draw
Newcastle United (H)
Newcastle aren’t great away from home and we’ve had good results against them recently. I look at those home games and they have to be wins.
Verdict? Arsenal win
Fulham (H)
This is sounding like a good run in!
Verdict? Arsenal win
Arsenal v Wigan Athletic - Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round
Arsenal still fighting on four fronts (Picture: Getty)
West Ham (A)
That could be tricky. A lot depends on where West Ham are by then and if they still have a chance to stay up. It could be tricky. I might put a draw down for that one but it is hard to call at this point.
Verdict? Draw
Burnley (H)
Burnley will probably be down by then so you would expect a win.
Verdict? Arsenal win
Crystal Palace (A)
Oliver Glasner will be leaving so I suppose maybe he will want to go out on a high, especially at Selhurst Park. But they will be safe. they could still be in the Conference League at that stage too which could make a difference.
Verdict? Arsenal win
Will Arsenal get over the line as champions?
If it goes down to the last day of the season, I would be delighted. I know how hard it is to win the league, but the run in does favour Arsenal slightly. This weekend is a very big one, especially for Arsenal.
Ray Parlour spoke to Metro courtesy of BetMGM.
The United legend is now backing City to get over the line ahead of Arsenal – even if he feels no team truly deserves the crown this season.
‘If I had to pick one (to go on an unbeaten run) I’d pick City,’ Scholes the The Good, The Bad and The Football.
‘Whoever wins the league, you always say they deserved it. I’m struggling to find which team deserves it.
Liverpool v Manchester City - Premier League
Guehi has hit the ground running at City (Picture: Getty Images)
‘None of them have convinced me they deserve to be Premier League champions,’ Scholes added before joking: ‘I don’t think they should give the trophy back this season!’
On Arsenal chances of winning it, Scholes continued: ‘They probably should do, but I’m basing my decision on now who has the best goalkeeper and who has the best two centre haves and I think it’s just City.’
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