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GARY NEVILLE PREDICTS ARSENAL WILL LIFT TITLE, ENDING YEARS OF WAITING

Gary Neville declares the Premier League title is "Arsenal's to lose" after they go four points clear. He backs Mikel Arteta's consistent, set-piece-driven side to win their first league title in over 20 years.

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Neville gives a clear timeline for Arsenal to finally win the championship - Photo Credit: Getty Images

Following Liverpool's fourth straight league defeat and Manchester City's loss at Aston Villa the day before, the Gunners' 1-0 victory over Crystal Palace on Sunday has put them four points clear at the top of the table.

Mikel Arteta's set-piece-driven strategy is working, and Arsenal is now the clear favourite to win the Premier League for the first time in more than 20 years.

As long as Arsenal "keeps doing what they are doing," they should be able to win the title with about 85 points, according to Neville, who has predicted Arsenal to win it for the last four seasons.

Doesn't this have to be them? He stated on the Gary Neville Podcast that this year must be theirs.

You have the chance to win. Arsenal, this is your title. It is true.


Gary Neville


"They are not necessarily much better; they are just repeating their levels of consistency, and that is all they need to accomplish this year to win the league. This is the fourth consecutive season that I have had them win the league.

The mid- to high-80s will earn them this title, and they can achieve it. They will not need to go out and score 100 points, or even 90 or 95 points, to win the league.

"As I previously stated, the other teams are unstable and erratic, but this Arsenal team is not one of them. They are incredibly trustworthy. You can rely on them. They defend excellently. They are surrounded by one another. They never give up goals.

"They pose a threat in some places up front. Although they do not have a particularly good centre-forward, they do have a battering ram who can be a useful asset up there.

"They have several players who can contribute goals, including [Eberechi] Eze, [Noni] Madueke, [Gabriel] Martinelli, and [Leandro] Trossard. They have Declan Rice, who is definitely capable of producing quality set pieces. They have three outstanding centre-backs and four outstanding full-backs.

Arsenal has a lot of excellent things going for them. Now, it is about ensuring they do not go overboard. Making sure people simply continue to perform the same things is the goal. Here, they do not have to accomplish anything noteworthy. Simply continue to perform your duties. You will win this league if you keep doing what you are doing.

"You have the chance to win. Arsenal, this is your title. Never in my life have I felt so certain. For someone with my level of title-winning expertise to claim that "it is yours" at this early stage of the season is absurd, yet it is.

"They have to experience it themselves. It must be felt by the Arsenal supporters. They must be aware that this is Arsenal's chance to regain the lead. This is Mikel Arteta's, these players', and Arsenal's chance to show that they are the greatest in the nation. They must go and seize the opportunity and chance that are available to them

GUARDIOLA TIPS HAT TO DYCHE: ‘HE’S AMONG THE VERY BEST’

Pep Guardiola hails new Forest boss Sean Dyche as "the best" at set-pieces, noting the trend isn't new. He also revealed that Man City has struggled with dead-ball situations this season compared to rivals like Arsenal.

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Pep Guardiola shaking hands with Sean Dyche - COURTESY/PHOTO

According to Pep Guardiola, Nottingham Forest has one of the best representatives of the new fascination in football at their disposal.

Although Mikel Arteta, Arsenal, and their ability to score goals from set pieces are admired by the football community, Guardiola has reminded everyone that the idea is not particularly new.

As demonstrated during his tenure as Burnley's manager from 2012 to 2012, he did, in fact, hail incoming Forest manager Sean Dyche as "one of the greatest."

The 54-year-old guided the Clarets into the Premier League and kept them there for six seasons before exiting Turf Moor.

Forest, who have only won one league game so far and are now in third place, can now access that knowledge.

Man City boss Guardiola said, “It’s true that people utilise every throw-in like a corner and put 10 players there in the box.

"Every move (Michael) Kayode made in the box caused us to suffer when we played at Brentford or watched Brentford play Liverpool in our hotel. Additionally, Kayode was the match's man.

“Today, set pieces are a menace. I recall being in Burnley a long time ago with Sean Dyche. Burnley posed a serious threat in the second and long balls.

"Dyche is by far the finest at these kinds of things. He has already done it; therefore, it is not fresh.

Or Sam Allardyce. Or I recall Stoke City when I was not here. Do you recall the throws made by Stoke City?

Maybe Stoke was the anomaly back then, but more and more teams are doing that now.

"I recall that Arsene Wenger mentioned playing at Stoke City while I was at Barcelona and Bayern Munich, but these days it happens frequently.

It may have happened (only) at Burnley or not at all when I got there, but it is a fact now. You must also pay attention. I still want to play, though.

This season, Arsenal has already scored nine league goals from set pieces, five from open play, and two from penalties.

With eight (plus eight from open play and one penalty), Chelsea is not far behind.

On the other end of the scale, though, are Forest and Man City. While City has scored 12 goals from open play, three more on the counterattack, and two own goals, they have yet to score from a set piece. The Reds have scored two of their five goals from restarts.

"Every manager does what they think," Guardiola stated. I am not ignorant of the fact that I want to score from corners and free kicks. I desire it. However, I dedicate my time to what we need to do to improve our play, attack, and generate opportunities. to score goals.

I pay attention, of course, but I am aware that I am not the manager to try to; I have done that my entire career. When things became rough at Burnley, I recall that we gave up maybe one corner, if any, as the second balls were under our control. That is the most effective method of defending these games.

However, you need to be strong in many areas for that, and we are working on it. I will keep working mostly on our game till the very end. And occasionally, as necessary, adjust.

At Brentford, we performed quite well. James, the French set-piece coach, did a fantastic job of enticing our guys into defending these kinds of acts. The same was true at Arsenal: it was amazing. We did not control the game against Arsenal; therefore, we gave up a lot of corners.

NAPOLI TAKE THREE-POINT LEAD AFTER CLOSE WIN AGAINST LECCE

Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa's header secured a 1-0 win for Napoli over Lecce, moving them top of Serie A. The victory was sealed after Vanja Milinkovic-Savic saved a Francesco Camarda penalty.

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Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa celebrates scoring - Photo Credit: Getty Images

Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa scored another goal to give Napoli a narrow victory over Lecce, although Vanja Milinkovic-Savic also saved a penalty kick from Francesco Camarda.

The thrilling 3-1 victory against Inter put the Partenopei back atop the league, but it came at a price: Kevin De Bruyne will miss several months of action due to a significant thigh strain. Rasmus Hojlund and Amir Rrahmani returned to the bench, but Stanislav Lobotka, Alex Meret, and Romelu Lukaku remained on the treatment table. Leonardo Spinazzola and Scott McTominay were rested, and the 4-3-3 formation was reinstated. Following the 3-2 loss to Udinese, Lecce was without Gaby Jean, Filip Marchwinski, Matias Perez, and Riccardo Sottil.

Billy Gilmour's attempt was deflected wide as Napoli wore their special edition Halloween uniform, but Lorenzo Lucca unintentionally charged down a Matteo Politano strike that was on target.

On the Matias Olivera pull-back, Politano turned over from six yards out, while Medon Berisha also threatened by drilling wide from the area's edge.

Olivera had been put clear by a clever Gilmour first-touch lay-off, but Wladimiro Falcone made a fantastic stop with his legs at the near post.

On the cusp of halftime, Francesco Camarda's chest and half-volley was inches wide, yet it would not have been considered handball.

Moments after the restart, Noa Lang added to the growing list of Napoli players out after hobbling off with a hit to the thigh just above the left knee.

Lucca sprinted onto a long ball that Falcone hurried out to nod clear, and Politano's follow-up was charged down with the goalie off his line, creating a double chance to open the score.

After a VAR review, the Lecce penalty was given because Kialonda Gaspar's header on a corner seemed to hit Juan Jesus' hand, which bent back on impact. Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, who has saved five of the past nine Serie A penalties faced, demonstrated his expertise by parrying the spot-kick when Camarda stepped up.

Hojlund made his comeback from injury, with McTominay and Leonardo Spinazzola reinforcing the team off the bench for the final half-hour.

It paid off, as a free kick from David Neres was glanced into the far top corner off the head of Anguissa from six yards out, giving Napoli the lead.

Nikola Stulic was too slow to capitalise on a Danilo Veiga pull-back, Elmas shot wide, and Hojlund missed the Neres assist in stoppages.

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