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Rio Ferdinand changes Premier League title prediction as Arsenal lead Man City and Aston Villa

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Manchester United great Rio Ferdinand has revised his Premier League title prediction as the battle intensifies between Arsenal, Manchester City and Aston Villa.

Arsenal, who have not lifted the league crown since 2004, have led the way for much of the campaign after an outstanding start to the season. The north London side have finished second in each of the past three years and, following an impressive summer of recruitment, are widely viewed as having one of the strongest and most balanced squads in the division.

Despite suffering a series of injuries to key players across the core of the team, Mikel Arteta’s men showed resilience with a hard-earned victory over Brighton, a result that ensured they would enter the New Year sitting at the top of the table.

However, their advantage remains slim, with Manchester City only two points behind and Aston Villa just three adrift.

Villa, managed by former Arsenal boss Unai Emery, have been in outstanding form, winning 11 consecutive matches across all competitions. They now have the chance to completely close the gap when they travel to the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night to face the league leaders.

If Villa manage to take points from that encounter, the door could open for City to leapfrog both sides when Pep Guardiola’s team head to Sunderland on New Year’s Day.

City endured a frustrating title defence last season, but they have looked revitalised following significant investment during last January’s window and again in the summer.

With eight straight wins in all competitions, Ferdinand believes the momentum is beginning to tilt towards the reigning champions, prompting him to rethink his earlier stance that Arsenal would go all the way.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, the former defender admitted that while he backed Arsenal before the season began, his view has shifted, suggesting City now look the likelier winners based on current form. He added that although he would like to see Arsenal lift the trophy, the way the season is unfolding points towards Guardiola’s side having the edge.

Arsenal now face a demanding run of fixtures in January, with league clashes against Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United set to test their credentials. According to Ferdinand, how Arteta’s team handle this stretch could determine whether their title push succeeds or falls short once again.

He feels Arsenal had built a healthy cushion earlier in the campaign but have allowed rivals to close in. Drawing on their recent near-misses, Ferdinand stressed that this is the stage where true contenders must be ruthless, recognising the opportunity and pushing decisively when rivals show vulnerability.

He believes the squad now has enough experience of falling short to understand what is required and that it is the manager’s responsibility to ensure that message is driven home.

Ferdinand also pointed to consistency against lesser opposition as a crucial factor. In his view, title-winning sides dominate teams in the bottom and middle of the table with relentless efficiency, while tightening up in direct contests against fellow challengers.

He suggested that Arsenal have too often stumbled in matches they were expected to win, particularly at decisive moments in the season, and warned that overcoming this pattern is essential if they are to finally turn promise into silverware.

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‘We want him’ – Club chief confirms he wants to sign Man Utd outcast in permanent transfer

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‘We want him’ – Club chief confirms he wants to sign Man Utd outcast in permanent transfer

Andre Onana could remain in Turkey beyond his loan spell, with Trabzonspor keen to secure him on a permanent deal.

The 30-year-old moved to Trabzonspor after falling out of favour at Manchester United, who brought in Senne Lammens last summer. Since then, Lammens has established himself as the club’s first-choice keeper, paving the way for Onana’s temporary switch.

In Turkey, however, Onana has rediscovered his form and quickly become a key figure. He recently grabbed attention with a standout performance in the Turkish Cup, saving three consecutive penalties to help his side overcome Samsunspor and reach the semi-finals.

The moment sparked widespread reactions online, especially from United supporters recalling their earlier penalty shootout defeat to Grimsby Town, where Onana managed just one save.

Trabzonspor president Ertugrul Dogan has openly expressed the club’s desire to keep the goalkeeper. He indicated that while Onana has his own career plans, the club would be eager to make the move permanent if the circumstances align, leaving the final decision in the player’s hands.

Back in England, United are expected to consider selling Onana, particularly with Lammens now firmly established as their number one. The club will likely aim to recover a significant portion of the £47.5 million they paid to sign him from Inter Milan in 2023, with two years still remaining on his contract.

Beyond his cup heroics, Onana has been a consistent presence in the league, starting every match for Trabzonspor and playing a vital role in their push for the title. His performances have earned strong praise in Turkey, with the club currently sitting third in the table, just six points behind leaders Galatasaray.

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Man City place Arsenal ‘bottles’ for sale outside Etihad Stadium before 2025/26 Premier League decider

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Man City place Arsenal 'bottles' for sale outside Etihad Stadium before 2025/26 Premier League decider

Manchester City appear to have kicked off the psychological battle ahead of their Premier League showdown with Arsenal.

In the build-up to the match, bottles branded with the Arsenal logo were reportedly being sold outside the stadium, priced cheaply and seemingly intended as a tongue-in-cheek way for home fans to mock the visiting supporters.

The stunt draws inspiration from a recent viral moment at Stamford Bridge, where a City fan was seen jokingly “drinking Arsenal tears” during their emphatic 3-0 win over Chelsea—a clip that quickly spread across social media.

With tensions already high given the importance of the fixture, the gesture adds another layer to the rivalry between the two sides. Arsenal, meanwhile, will be focused on responding where it matters most—on the pitch—as they aim to silence critics and deliver a strong result in what could be a defining game in the title race.

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Bruno Fernandes responds to Manchester United star’s dig at Chelsea flop Alejandro Garnacho

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Bruno Fernandes responds to Manchester United star’s dig at Chelsea flop Alejandro Garnacho

Alejandro Garnacho faced criticism from his former Manchester United teammates following Chelsea’s latest Premier League setback.

A first-half goal from Matheus Cunha secured a narrow but important win for United, strengthening the position of Michael Carrick’s side in the race for Champions League qualification. Chelsea, meanwhile, continue to struggle, with the defeat marking their fourth consecutive league loss without finding the net.

Pressure is mounting on head coach Liam Rosenior, who only took charge a few months ago after replacing Enzo Maresca. While the club has not publicly wavered in its support, questions are beginning to emerge over several players, including Garnacho, whose performances have failed to meet expectations since his £40 million move from Old Trafford.

Reports suggest Chelsea could be open to offers for the 21-year-old after a difficult start to life at Stamford Bridge. He had an early opportunity to impress against his former side after coming on for the injured Estevao, but once again struggled to make an impact, finding it hard to break through a United defence that was missing several first-choice centre-backs.

Garnacho also received a hostile reception from United supporters during the match, and the reaction appeared to carry over beyond the pitch. After the game, Luke Shaw shared an image on social media showing himself standing over Garnacho following a challenge. Bruno Fernandes responded with a playful but pointed comment, while former teammate Alex Telles also joined in with reactions.

Chelsea’s broader struggles are becoming increasingly concerning. They now sit four points behind Liverpool in the race for fifth place, despite having played an extra game. The current run—four straight league defeats without scoring—is their worst in nearly three decades, with an even longer drought not seen since 1912.

Across all competitions, the form is equally worrying, with six losses in their last seven matches and 16 goals conceded during that stretch. A significant portion of their recent goals have come in a single outing against Port Vale, highlighting their lack of consistency in front of goal.

After the match, Rosenior admitted uncertainty about what failing to qualify for the Champions League could mean for his future. He acknowledged the result was difficult to take, especially given that Chelsea created numerous chances but failed to convert them. He pointed out that United capitalised on a limited opportunity, while his side were unable to make their attacking pressure count.

Despite the frustration, Rosenior emphasized the need for continued effort and improvement, insisting that the team must find a way to turn their form around before the situation worsens further.

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