05 February 2023 , 15:18
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Former Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has tipped Manchester City to pip Arsenal to the Premier League title as the Gunners aim to bounce back from just their second league defeat of the season.
Mikel Arteta's men have been in sensational form all campaign, but were toppled by an inspired Everton side in what was Sean Dyche's first game in the Goodison Park hot-seat. The former Burnley boss managed to oversee a 1-0 win against the league leaders less than a week after officially taking the reins in Merseyside.
A James Tarkowski header from a Dwight McNeil corner bang on the hour mark was enough to separate the two teams on the day, with Arteta all too aware that every point dropped by Arsenal only increases City optimism that the Gunners can be caught.
As things stand, Arsenal still sit top and boast a five-point advantage over their nearest challengers in Pep Guardiola's side, but City have a chance to close the gap to just two points if they register a win away at the Gunners' local rivals Spurs on Sunday afternoon.
Few expected Arsenal to be anywhere near this position at this stage of the season, but wins over the likes of Spurs, Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United have ensured they have a gap of some kind between City and themselves. Despite this, it is a gap Redknapp has tipped City to eventually make up before leapfrogging Arsenal into top spot.
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The ex-West Ham and Southampton boss, speaking to Reece Mennie on his podcast, sung the praises of Arteta's side and highlighted a few standout players.
"I think Arsenal are playing fantastic football. The football they’re playing and the team just looks so well balanced. Two great wingers in Saka and Martinelli, they’re strong in midfield – Odegaard looks a real player, I love the way he plays, he’s just class. And they look solid at the back, Ramsdale is good."
However, he still doesn't feel the Gunners can outlast City's chase for another 18 games, as he claimed: "I don’t know though, I’ve still got a feeling Man City are gonna win it, I think they’re gonna come with a rally and pip them.
"But it’s gonna be tight. Arsenal are gonna take some catching, but the one team you don’t want chasing you down is Man City! If it was anyone else chasing them I’d say yeh fine, but they’re so dangerous."
Arsenal have the chance to bounce back from defeat at Everton with a home clash against Brentford next Saturday, but some excitable fans may already have one eye on the game after.
The Gunners welcome title rivals City to the Emirates on Wednesday, February 15 in what many are touting as a title decider despite there still being three months of the season still to play.