Gary Neville believes Arsenal remain the team to beat in the Premier League title race this season, despite acknowledging that Manchester City have significantly strengthened their squad following a late and expensive transfer window spree.
Speaking on Sky Sports, the former Manchester United defender turned pundit reflected on how City's business in the closing weeks of the transfer window has reshaped perceptions of Pep Guardiola's squad, particularly in midfield, an area that had appeared vulnerable earlier in the window.
"There was a point probably two or three weeks before the end of the transfer window when City didn't have in Bouaddi, Enzo Fernandez and Ndiaye that you thought they look well short, particularly in midfield," Neville said. "They get those three in late on which is £250 million worth of business I think and it's transformed the look of the team."
Despite the influx of quality into City's midfield, Neville was quick to point out that the club's title credentials will ultimately hinge on the fitness and consistency of their defensive unit rather than their attacking or creative additions. He singled out key figures at the back who need to remain available for City to sustain a serious challenge.
"I think the big thing for City is it's going to come down to the defence. It's going to come down to Dias being fit. It's going to come down to Gvardiol being fit," Neville explained. He further noted the importance of experienced defenders alongside emerging talent, highlighting Marc Guehi as a key figure in that backline.
"The experienced players back there and Guehi, obviously. If you can keep that back four and you've got Khusanov on the bench and Nico O'Reilly, it's a youngish back four as with some younger defenders," Neville added, suggesting that City possess enough depth and quality to remain competitive provided injuries do not disrupt their defensive setup.
The Sky Sports pundit went on to suggest that, should City avoid a run of untimely injuries at the back, they have the tools to push Arsenal all the way in what is shaping up to be a tightly contested title race. However, his overall verdict still favored the Gunners as the stronger side heading into the campaign.
"If they don't pick up injuries Manchester City they can give Arsenal a real run. I still think Arsenal are better, but City have improved enormously with the signings they made at the end of the window," Neville said.
Neville also touched on the significance of a recent result for City boss Enzo Maresca's counterpart context, though his comments appeared to reference the broader psychological aspect of big matches. He suggested that performing well in high-pressure fixtures is crucial for establishing the right mentality going forward.
"That today was big for Maresca, to establish a big-game mentality," Neville remarked, underlining how important such results can be in shaping a team's belief and approach during a demanding season.
With both Arsenal and Manchester City expected to be at the forefront of the title conversation, Neville's comments highlight the fine margins that could define the campaign. While City's late spending spree has undoubtedly bolstered their options in midfield, the Sky Sports analyst's assessment suggests that defensive reliability, rather than attacking reinforcements, will likely be the deciding factor in whether Guardiola's side can mount a genuine challenge to Arsenal's perceived superiority this season.
Based on reporting from Standard Football.