Premier League winner tells Arsenal and Man City who’re ‘rightful favourites’
EXCLUSIVE: Former Premier League winner Michael Owen has given his verdict on who the ‘rightful favourites’ are in the Premier League title race ahead of Manchester City’s pivotal clash
Mikel Arteta and Pep Guardiola will be in a straight race for the Premier League title
Arsenal and Manchester City’s Premier League title race looks set to go down to the wire after Mikel Arteta’s side lost at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
A 2-1 victory for the Blues saw them close the gap to Arsenal to three points with a game in hand. Pep Guardiola’s side take on Burnley tonight and a win will send City top of the league on goal difference less than two weeks after they trailed the Gunners by nine points.
If City stick to the form book and win at Turf Moor, the top two will be separated only by goal difference with five games to go – making the league a potential straight shootout for who has the deadliest attack.
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City will not only take command of the title race with victory on Wednesday night, but they will also relegate Burnley with a win.
Former Liverpool, Manchester United and England striker Michael Owen, who now represents Casino.org, a leading platform helping players find UK casino brands, told the Daily Star Sport that City are the “rightful” favourites after winning at the Etihad.
“For sure, Arsenal players will be down and gutted after yesterday, but they put in a very good performance and on another day, they come away with a point or all three,” Owen said.
“There wasn’t much between the teams so they can regroup and look to win their remaining games and hope City drop points, which, with the games they have, could happen, so the title isn’t over yet, although, yes, City have the upper hand now and are rightful favourites.
“For me, I didn’t have a similar feeling from being in front for most of the season, but I do think they can take positives from yesterday for sure, which can help them for the rest of the season.”
Victory will see City top the table for the first time since August, but despite this, Owen also said that Arteta should not face the sack even if the Gunners capitulate in the final weeks of the season.
He said: “Mikel is coming up against one of the greatest managers of all time and you are sitting second against him. Arsenal are improving all the time and challenging for the title year in year out. He is doing a great job and look at how close they’ve been over the years.
“In the Champions League Arsenal have now reached back-to-back Champions League semi-finals, which is no mean feat. They have the chance to reach the final and go one step further this year.
“This isn’t the time for any negativity at all. Arsenal can still win the League and Champions League.
“They have a very competitive squad, which will only continue to get stronger, so no, if they don’t win the League, then I don’t think he should be sacked.”
