Gary Lineker has insisted Arsenal will win the Premier League title after seeing the Gunners move eight points clear at the top of the table.
Mikel Arteta's men claimed a dominant win over Tottenham in Sunday's North London derby to open up a sizeable lead over Manchester City. They will now have seven days to prepare for another huge clash with Manchester United, who could be second by the time they play.
If the Red Devils defeat both Crystal Palace on Wednesday and the Gunners on Sunday they will cut Arsenal's lead to just three points. Despite that potential jeopardy though, Lineker has insisted the title is Arsenal's to lose.
" Arsenal are very, very good. Arsenal will win the Premier League title this year," Lineker tweeted after their win over Spurs. The Gunners have been top virtually all season long, losing just once.
That defeat came at the hands of United though, back in September at Old Trafford. Arteta will be hoping for a more ruthless performance in the reverse fixture, with a win putting them ever closer to a first title for 19 years.
The Spaniard has admitted his side will need to finish on a total of at least 90 points in order to break their drought. But he insisted that he has full confidence in his side to reach that landmark.
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"This has a big emotional attachment because there is a big history between the two clubs and it means so much for us and our people to win this game. That is a great position to be in and let's enjoy every single moment and let's keep focusing," Arteta said.
"The only thing we can do is try to play better and focus on the things we're doing well. The team is out there, and we don't see this in a grey way but there are a lot of things to improve.
"We know that, we are conscious of that, and we'll keep working the same way. I don't want to do too many calculations. It's how we are going to prepare for the game against Man United now, to get another three points and play well and deserve to win.
"You ask me about points but it's happened in the last four or five seasons so it will demand almost perfection. I’m going in the dressing room and just feeling the joy and the togetherness around the team and how much it meant for them."
United will provide a difficult challenge for the Gunners on Sunday, with Erik ten Hag's men enjoying a rich vein of form. They claimed a statement win over fierce rivals City on Saturday, coming from behind to secure all three points.
It was a ninth successive win for Ten Hag's men in all competitions, going back to before the break for the World Cup. If Arsenal are able to end that run though, the Gunners will go some way to fulfilling Lineker's prediction.
