Wayne Rooney has proven to be a dab hand at Premier League predictions after Manchester City slipped up in the title race.
Pep Guardiola’s side played out a pulsating 3-3 draw with Everton on Monday night in a major blow to their hopes of winning the top flight.
The result, which saw them come from 3-1 behind late on after a disastrous 13-minute collapse, leaves them five points adrift of Arsenal with just three weeks left.
And it follows exactly what Manchester United legend Rooney predicted last month after City had beaten the Gunners 2-1 at the Etihad in what many felt was a decisive afternoon.
Asked for his title predictions on Match of the Day following that game, Rooney had said: ‘I think it’ll be tight. They’re good fixtures for Arsenal, and I think they will win all of their games and City’s fixtures are a bit more difficult.
‘I think Everton might take a couple of points off them.’
Wayne Rooney’s predictions for the title race have been eerily accurate so far
Manchester City were left crestfallen after sacrificing a 1-0 lead to draw 3-3 at Everton
Since Rooney’s predictions, City beat Burnley before dropping points on Monday night against the Toffees, whereas Arsenal have won both of their matches against Newcastle and Fulham.
Rooney has already edged fellow pundit Danny Murphy, who had predicted both sides would win all of their games.
Murphy had said: ‘I just think they’re both going to be so focused now. They’re two powerful teams with such an array of talent, and they’re not just relying on an XI.
‘I think they’ll win all of their games and it’ll go to goal difference.’
During his forecasting of the title race, Rooney had also urged Arsenal fans to really get behind their team.
‘The fans have a big role to play,’ he added. ‘I said this last season that against Real Madrid they were excellent but they were very poor against PSG.
‘In the last game against Bournemouth they were booing the players off the pitch. They’ve been top of the league all season.
‘They’re Arsenal fans. I want Arsenal to win the league, I don’t want Man City to win the league. Arsenal fans need to get behind the team.’
When pressed by Mark Chapman about whether he could understand the fans’ nerves, Rooney replied: ‘Yep, but they’ve got to show the players… the players will be nervous as well.
‘They’ve got to show the players that they’re with them and giving them their full support. I know they do, but when they’re booing them after being in the semi-final of the Champions League and top of the league.’
Arsenal’s remaining three games see them take on West Ham, Burnley and Crystal Palace, while City have four matches to play.
Guardiola’s side face Brentford, Palace, Bournemouth and Aston Villa as they look to stop the Gunners winning their first title since 2004.
