‘No likelihood’ – Wayne Rooney makes title prediction as Arsenal lead Man City | Football

Wayne Rooney has revealed his latest Premier League title prediction and given Aston Villa ‘no likelihood’ of ending above Arsenal or Manchester City.

Arsenal, and not using a Premier League title since 2004, still have a two-point lead at the highest of the table despite seeing their advantage cut in recent weeks.

Mikel Arteta’s side had dropped point in three of their past five games before Saturday’s dramatic 2-1 victory over bottom-placed Wolves.

Arsenal briefly had a five-point lead within the title race but Manchester City cut the deficit with a formidable 3-0 win at FA Cup winners Crystal Palace later within the weekend.

The Gunners are also facing competition for the title from their former manager Unai Emery, who has taken Aston Villa to 3rd within the league, just three points behind the leaders.

Despite Villa’s impressive form – which has seen them win 10 of their last 11 Premier League games – Rooney says there may be ‘no likelihood’ of the Midlands club winning the title.

The ex-Manchester Unites and England striker due to this fact believes it should be a straight shootout between Arsenal and Man City and has tipped the Gunners to clinch the title for the primary time in 22 years.

‘I still think Arsenal are the favourites to win the league but it’s going to be really interesting if Man City stay near them,’ Rooney, a five-time Premier League winner, said on his BBC podcast.

‘That can bring back memories for the Arsenal players of getting the lead before and Liverpool or Man City snatching it off them. It can be interesting.

‘Arsenal are still favourites for me but City are looking good. I still fancy Arsenal with the squad they’ve but City are looking good and dangerous again and that might disturb Arsenal come the top of the season.

‘I hope it doesn’t, I might love Arsenal to win it, but that may be my concern if I used to be an Arsenal fan. The Arsenal players could be crazy in the event that they weren’t fearful about Man City.’

Asked if he viewed Aston Villa as real contenders for the title, Rooney added: ‘No, no. If we’re realistic, no.

‘What the manager is doing is incredible. They lost a few players in the summertime with [Marcus] Rashford and [Marco] Asensio leaving and the fans weren’t pleased.

‘That they had a poor start however the players have really turned it around. When it comes to the title race, there’s no likelihood they’ll finish above Man City or Arsenal.’

Ex-Premier League manager Tim Sherwood agrees with Rooney’s assessment of the title race, insisting Arsenal are still ‘favourites’ and downplaying Aston Villa’s credentials.

‘Winning ugly is usually necessary and that was very ugly from Arsenal,’ Sherwood said on Premier League Productions. ‘I believed it will be so much more comfortable than it turned out but they struggled, they really did.

‘They didn’t manage the sport thoroughly. We’re in December they usually got edgy, they got nervous. The title race hasn’t even began yet they usually’re doing that in December.

‘Mikel Arteta isn’t telling them to drop off but all of us sort it coming. Too nervy for me, they’re that nervous and the Christmas turkey hasn’t even been carved yet.

‘What are they going to be like when it actually counts? It’s going to be panic stations. They haven’t done it before either in order that they have to get that trait out of them.

‘You can’t win the title now but you possibly can definitely put yourself out of the race. I’ve liked what I’ve seen from Arsenal this season and think they’re in it for the long haul.’

Asked whether Arsenal were still his favourites to win the Premier League, Sherwood added: ‘Yeah, but that game remains to be fresh in my mind and I didn’t like what I saw.

‘I used to be a bit bit fearful for them there. It’s going to get more edgy and more anxious they usually can’t afford to point out that style of anxiety on the pitch.

‘The whole lot is waiting for them to fail and waiting for them to bottle it – I’m not, I hope they go and win the league.

‘Mikel Arteta is an excellent manager they usually have an excellent squad – they’re able to winning it.’

Pressed on Aston Villa’s hopes of lifting the Premier League trophy, Sherwood replied: ‘They may not have the strength in depth.

‘The one team who won’t get edgy is the team who’s been there and done it many, over and over and that’s the team chasing Arsenal on the minute, Man City.’

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