Jamie Redknapp names the two games that will decide whether Manchester City or Arsenal win the title
If Arsenal win Sunday’s North London derby against Tottenham, they will win all their remaining games, Jamie Redknapp predicts.
Though the former Liverpool and Spurs star isn’t sure that even that will be enough to stop Manchester City from winning the Premier League title.
City moved to within a point of Arsenal on Thursday night after thrashing Brighton 4-0, and crucially the former have a game in hand over their title rivals.
After Liverpool’s Merseyside derby defeat, most believe the title race is now between the Citizens and the Gunners, though Pep Guardiola insists the Reds still have a chance.
But it is a fact that Tottenham will have the biggest say in the race as they still have to play all three title contenders, starting with arch-rivals Arsenal.
Mikel Arteta’s side cannot afford to drop points but Redknapp believes that victory against Spurs will put Arsenal on course for a flawless finish to the campaign, saying on Sky Sports: ‘Tottenham have a massive part to play don’t they?
‘They’ve obviously going to play Arsenal on Sunday which is going to be a huge game. We’ve only got to look at what happened yesterday… with derby matches anything is possible.
‘If Arsenal can navigate that one and get three points, I think they win all their games. Then it’s just a question of if Manchester City were to just slip up once and by slipping up I mean a draw. Then it’ll be Arsenal’s title.
‘Tottenham have got a home game against Manchester City as well. They’ve got a good record against them.
‘Man City are rightly favourites. I’ve not always agreed with the Opta stats, but they are rightly favourites because they’ve got the history, they know how to do it.
‘But I do believe that Arsenal are going to keep them so honest I really do. But I just point to the Tottenham game on Sunday because that’s the big one for me. If they win that, Arsenal win the rest of their games.’
Fellow pundit Gael Clichy agreed that the two Spurs games would decide the title, with the former Arsenal and City star adding: ‘Tottenham can really change the course of the race. If Arsenal goes and wins away this puts pressure on City.
‘But I don’t see City dropping points against [Nottingham] Forest, against Wolverhampton, against Fulham, but I see them struggling against Tottenham.
‘So Tottenham will have a massive say the title race but again that first game, Arsenal against Tottenham will be will be the big one.’
Liverpool will try to keep their hopes alive on Saturday when they travel to West Ham on Saturday, before the North London derby is followed directly by Forest vs City.
