- Manchester City trail league leaders Arsenal by six points
- The sides face off at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday
- Pundits have been sharing their thoughts on title battle
Some of the leading pundits in English football have been sharing their thoughts ahead of Manchester City taking on Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday in a potential title decider.
Leaders Arsenal have a six-point advantage over Man City, but have Pep Guardiola’s side has a game in hand over the Gunners.
The two title rivals face off at the Etihad Stadium this weekend, giving the hosts a chance to reduce the gap to just three points.
Ahead of the crucial fixture, several leading pundits have been sharing their views and predictions as the top two sides in England prepare to face each other.
Tim Sherwood says Man City vs Arsenal will decide the title
While Sunday’s game will not mathematically decide who wins the Premier League this season, many argue that the winner between City and Arsenal will go on to lift the trophy.
Chief among those is former Tottenham, Coventry City and Blackburn Rovers midfielder Tim Sherwood, who emphasised the winner-takes-all nature of the meeting.
He told Sky Sports: “It’s a huge game. It’s a cup final. It is the biggest cup final they’re ever gonna play next week.
“If they [Arsenal] beat Manchester City they can win the Premier League, it’s down to one game.”
''If they beat Manchester City they can win the Premier League, it's down to one game''
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) April 13, 2026
Tim Sherwood says Arsenal's trip to Manchester City on Sunday will decide who wins the Premier League 🏆 pic.twitter.com/gX3znL2EAy
Sherwood continued: “They will not lose the Premier League if they win that game next week, so it’s down to one game.”
Momentum will be key for Man City in final weeks
While Sherwood focused on this weekend’s game, others suggested that momentum may play the biggest role in deciding who emerges victorious.
Speaking on TalkSPORT, Andy Townsend and Jeff Stelling insisted Arsenal remain favourites to win the title, but must avoid compounding recent bad results with another poor performance.
Townsend said: “I don’t believe that it’s done and dusted yet, or that it’s automatic that City will now go on and win the league.
😬 Andy: "When the momentum goes it's hard to get it back!"
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) April 13, 2026
🔑 Jeff: "I just think Man City's squad depth could be the key…"
Townsend and Stelling debate if #MCFC are now favourites to win the title ahead of #AFC! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/vU0AFJfK9G
“They are where they are [Arsenal] because of how impressive they have been. But they’ve lost a spark, a little bit of something from somewhere.
“When that momentum goes it’s very difficult to grab it and get it back.”
Stelling, meanwhile, suggested that squad depth may also become a deciding factor in picking a Premier League winner.
“Momentum’s a great thing in football, and City certainly have it at the moment but you know how quickly that can change.
“It’s almost impossible to call. But the depth of that squad [City’s], I think that squad depth could be the key in the end.”
Manchester City ready to capitalise as Arsenal feeling the pressure
Despite some differing views, there has been one thing that most pundits do agree on – Arsenal will be feeling far more pressure than City ahead of this weekend.
Mikel Arteta’s side have been perennial runners-up, finishing second in the past three title races. City’s players know this, and Pep Guardiola will be doing everything to make sure it’s Arsenal that are struggling under the weight of expectation.
Ex-Manchester United star Wayne Rooney was among those suggesting Arsenal are beginning to wobble, and may not be able to recover their wavering form.
“He told BBC Sport: “That pressure does build up, and when you have a couple of bad results, you start searching for answers, and it looks like they’re [Arsenal] struggling to get out of it.
“They’re just starting to show signs that they’re cracking a little bit”
Another former Man United man, Gary Neville, agreed, telling Sky Sports: “Guardiola is smelling blood, it’s in their grasp.”
