Arsenal
have been tipped to hold off the Manchester clubs and finish second to
Premier League leaders Chelsea by our Soccer Saturday pundits.
Paul Merson, Phil Thompson and Charlie Nicholas reckon Arsene Wenger’s men –
who are currently the division’s in-form side – are on course for a
runners-up spot after Manchester City suffered a shock Monday Night Football
defeat at Crystal Palace.
That loss left Manuel Pellegrini’s men in fourth ahead of this weekend’s
Manchester derby, two points behind the Gunners and one behind rivals
United.
Merson and Thompson reckon City – who for so long this season were Chelsea’s
main rivals for the title – will eventually finish in the final Champions
League qualifying spot, with Louis van Gaal’s side ahead of them.
Nicholas expects a City response – but all three pundits, with a month and a
half remaining of the season - say the 2014/15 Premier League title is as
good as Chelsea’s…
Thommo’s top four prediction:
1. Chelsea
2. Arsenal
3. Man Utd
4. Man City
Thommo says: “After Monday night’s result it’s going to be extremely
difficult for City to finish second to Chelsea, who’ve pretty much won it.
I’d have to say, on current form, it’s likely to be Arsenal, Manchester
United and Manchester City behind them.”
Charlie’s top four prediction:
1. Chelsea
2. Arsenal
3. Man City
4. Man Utd
Charlie says: “I feel that, given the games United have coming up, and after
watching them at the weekend against Aston Villa, there are still teams out
there who can pick them off, even though they’re playing well. The main
thing for them is just getting back into that top four, it will mean
everything to them, so I don’t think the ambition of finishing second will
be quite there.”
Merse’s top four prediction:
1.Chelsea
2.Arsenal
3.Man Utd
4.Man City
Merson says: “If you’d have said to me six weeks ago that Manchester United
were favourites to beat Manchester City to go four points clear of them, I’d
have laughed at you. But now, Man City must be petrified to go there. The
league title is done, Arsenal will finish second I think, then it’s Man Utd
and Man City for me. If United beat City and Liverpool win their next game,
then City could be in serious trouble... But I think they’ve done enough
already to stay in the top four.”
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