Owen Hargreaves makes Man Utd v Arsenal prediction with title on the line
Owen Hargreaves looking ahead to Man Utd v Arsenal (Picture: Premier League)
Owen Hargreaves has dismissed suggestions that Manchester United could end Arsenal’s Premier League title challenge, backing the Gunners to beat Erik ten Hag’s side in a crucial fixture at Old Trafford.
Arsenal, chasing a first league title since 2004, kept the pressure on Manchester City with a tense 3-2 win over Tottenham in Sunday’s north London derby.
Man City, bidding to become the first team to lift four successive Premier League trophies, responded almost instantly with a 2-0 win at Nottingham Forest in the late kick-off.
The results mean Arsenal’s lead at the top of the table is just one point, with Man City set to win the Premier League if they win their four remaining games.
Arsenal will hope to keep Pep Guardiola’s team honest by taking nine points from their final three games, with the Gunners facing Bournemouth and Everton at home in-between a trip to Manchester United.
The Old Trafford game is Arsenal’s toughest fixture on paper but ex-United midfielder Hargreaves cannot see his former club causing many problems.
‘They can be anything, United, it’s mad,’ he said on Premier League Productions. ‘Even at home to Burnley, it was Burnley who had more possession.
‘That game might suit United because they’ll be able to play on the counter and hit them on the break.
‘But Mikel Arteta does such a great job in formulating game-plans to nullify those threats so I think Arsenal will beat Man United.
‘United can’t control games, the middle of the pitch is so open and Arsenal’s midfield is brilliant with [Martin] Odegaard and [Declan] Rice. So I don’t see United troubling Arsenal.’
Manchester United’s struggles continued on Saturday as they failed to beat relegation-battlers Burnley in a disappointing 1-1 draw at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils have little to play for in the Premier League but will conclude the 2023-24 campaign with a FA Cup final against Manchester City.
While Arsenal prepare for fixtures against Bournemouth, Manchester United and Everton, defending champions Man City face Wolves, Fulham, Tottenham and West Ham as they chase a record fourth consecutive title.
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