Jamie Redknapp has announced the two matches that will determine whether Arsenal or Manchester City win the Premier League title this season.
Following Arsenal’s 5-0 win over Chelsea on Tuesday, Manchester City raced to a 4-0 victory over Brighton on Thursday evening, with Pep Guardiola’s team now focusing on the Premier League championship chase after being knocked out of the Champions League.
“Tottenham have a huge role to play. The Gunners are still one point clear of the Citizens, who have a game in hand over Mikel Arteta’s side, while third-placed Liverpool is another two points behind.”
Tottenham will have the most say in the Premier League title battle, as they must play all three title challengers before the end of the season.
Arsenal meet them first on Sunday in the north London derby, and Arteta’s side knows they can’t afford to lose any more points.
Redknapp stated on Sky Sports: “Tottenham have a massive part to play don’t they?
“They’ve obviously going to play Arsenal on Sunday which is going to be a huge game. We’ve only got to look at what happened yesterday… with derby matches anything is possible.
“If Arsenal can navigate that one and get three points, I think they win all their games. Then it’s just a question of if Manchester City were to just slip up once and by slipping up I mean a draw. Then it’ll be Arsenal’s title.
“Tottenham have got a home game against Manchester City as well. They’ve got a good record against them.
“Man City are rightly favourites. I’ve not always agreed with the Opta stats, but they are rightly favourites because they’ve got the history, they know how to do it.
“But I do believe that Arsenal are going to keep them so honest I really do. But I just point to the Tottenham game on Sunday because that’s the big one for me. If they win that, Arsenal win the rest of their games.”
Gael Clichy: If Arsenal goes and wins away this puts pressure on City
Fellow pundit and former Arsenal defender Gael Clichy agreed that the matches against Tottenham could really “change the course” of the title.
Clichy added: “Tottenham can really change the course of the race. If Arsenal goes and wins away this puts pressure on City.
“But I don’t see City dropping points against [Nottingham] Forest, against Wolverhampton, against Fulham, but I see them struggling against Tottenham.
“So Tottenham will have a massive say the title race but again that first game, Arsenal against Tottenham will be will be the big one