Arsenal told why they are Man City’s main title rivals by Roy Keane

Manchester United hero Roy Keane has unexpectedly explained why he believes Arsenal are Manchester City’s main Premier League title rivals this season. The Gunners leapfrogged the Citizens to return to the top of the table on Sunday after defeating Liverpool 3-2 at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal have been in fine form this season and have won eight of their nine top-flight matches, with their only defeat coming at the hands of Erik ten Hag’s United side in early September. The Gunners started the weekend at the Premier League summit, before briefly dropping to second after the Citizens had thrashed Southampton on Saturday. But they moved one point ahead of Pep Guardiola’s side after victory over the Reds a day later.

And when Monday Night Football presenter David Jones asked Keane if Arsenal were City’s main challengers for the title this season, the former Ireland midfielder’s stance was clear. “Yeah, at the moment – without a doubt,” he replied.

“They’re playing with confidence. Even the game they lost against United recently, they played quite well in the game. It was just one of those days where United just beat them on the counter-attack. They’re playing with confidence – they’ve got a bit of physicality now in the team. Even the two centre-halves – I know they’ve got a mistake in them, but there’s that physical presence.

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Mikel Arteta’s side were originally scheduled to take on the Dutch club in September, but that game itself was postponed because of policing issues in the wake of the queen’s death.

Arsenal’s start to the season ranks among the best of any team in Premier League history. And the north London giants can extend their lead at the top of the table to four points if they beat Leeds at Elland Road on Sunday afternoon, before City take on Liverpool later in the day.

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