Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has delivered a stark assessment of the Premier League title race, insisting Aston Villa have 'no chance' of finishing above Arsenal or Manchester City this season.
Rooney's Straight Shootout Prediction
The former England captain, speaking on his BBC podcast, believes the championship will be a direct battle between the current top two. He has tipped Mikel Arteta's Arsenal, who last won the league in 2004, to finally end their 22-year wait for the crown. "I still think Arsenal are the favourites to win the league," said the five-time Premier League winner. However, he warned that the relentless pursuit of Pep Guardiola's Manchester City could trigger painful memories for the Gunners, who have seen leads slip in recent seasons.
Rooney's comments come after a significant weekend in the title chase. Arsenal maintained their two-point lead at the summit with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday, despite a recent dip that saw them drop points in three of their previous five matches. Their advantage, which had once stood at five points, was immediately cut as Manchester City produced a commanding 3-0 away win at Crystal Palace on Sunday, with Erling Haaland and Phil Foden starring once more.
Villa's Charge Dismissed Despite Stunning Form
Adding a fascinating subplot is the remarkable charge of Aston Villa, managed by former Arsenal boss Unai Emery. Villa sit third, just three points behind Arsenal, having won 10 of their last 11 league games. Yet Rooney was unequivocal when asked if they were genuine contenders. "No, no. If we're realistic, no," he stated. He praised Emery's "incredible" work and the squad's resilience after a summer that saw key departures and a poor start, but concluded: "In terms of the title race, there's no chance they will finish above Man City or Arsenal."
Rooney expressed a personal desire to see Arsenal triumph but highlighted a key concern. "The Arsenal players would be crazy if they weren't worried about Man City," he said. "City are looking good and dangerous again and that could disturb Arsenal come the end of the season."
Sherwood Echoes Concerns Over Arsenal's Nerve
Rooney's view is shared by former Premier League manager Tim Sherwood, who also downplayed Villa's credentials while questioning Arsenal's nerve. Analysing their narrow win over Wolves for Premier League Productions, Sherwood described the performance as "very ugly" and expressed worry over the team's edginess in December. "The title race hasn't even started yet and they're doing that in December... What are they going to be like when it actually counts?" he questioned.
Despite these concerns, Sherwood ultimately agreed with Rooney's prediction, labelling Arsenal as favourites due to Arteta's management and the quality of their squad. He pinpointed the critical difference, however: "The only team who won't get edgy is the team who's been there and done it many, many times and that's the team chasing Arsenal at the minute, Man City."
As the festive fixture list looms, the narrative is set: a tense duel between an Arsenal side desperate to prove their mettle and a champion Manchester City lying in wait, with a sensational Villa story largely written off by the pundits.
