Sky Sports pundit and former Manchester United captain has shared his controversial view on last season's Arsenal side compared to the current Liverpool team.
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Pundit Gary Neville looks on
Former Man United full-back Gary Neville has made his feelings clear on last season's Arsenal team compared to Liverpool
(Image: Getty Images)
Gary Neville has suggested that last season's Arsenal team would have won the Premier League title this term ahead of champions-elect Liverpool. The Reds are closing in on a record-equalling 20th English top-flight crown amid manager Arne Slot's stunning debut campaign on Merseyside.
Liverpool sit 16 points clear at the summit after Saturday's 3-1 win over Southampton at Anfield. However, Arsenal will have the chance to close the gap when they face Manchester United on Sunday afternoon.
The Reds have an excellent opportunity to win a treble of league title, league cup, and Champions League this season. Slot's men face Paris Saint-Germain in their last 16 second-leg clash on Tuesday before taking on Newcastle in next weekend's Carabao Cup final.
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But despite Liverpool potentially being on the verge of an historic campaign, former Manchester United captain Neville does not put them ahead of last season's Arsenal team. The Gunners finished the 2023/24 season on 89 points, two points off eventual champions Manchester City.
"Arsenal still should have been closer to them," he told Sky Sports when asked about this season's gap to Liverpool. "Arsenal of last season are as good if not better than the Liverpool of this season, so Arsenal should be neck and neck with Liverpool.
"I know they've had injuries but you've got a plan for that. I mean, Arsenal haven't signed a striker for three years and then now it's woe me about the fact that they haven't got a striker. They've got Havertz up front, they've got Jesus. He doesn't fancy, to be fair, Jesus anyway as a striker.
"Havertz is his only option, and surely you've got a plan in a 55-game season that you're gonna lose a player or two. So the idea that they haven't got backup for Harvertz and Jesus is for me not right, and you know they've left themselves short in the transfer window.
"They've signed loads of players to cover for the fact that Saliba was the problem two years ago when they obviously fell away in the last part of the season, so they've signed loads of centre-backs. They then had a problem they reckoned last year with midfield, so they've signed players in that area.
"So for me, they've left themselves short, Arsenal, and it's been through poor recruitment and a little bit of rigidity with the set pieces. If Arsenal had the number of points last season this season, then they would be champions. Arsenal have dropped off this year, and that's something that will cause Mikel Arteta a problem. I think he's done a great job, but he needs to get back to that level that he was last season next season."