‘Got to beat Tottenham’ – Neville, Richards and Redknapp assess top-four race
Gary Neville has claimed that Manchester United still have a chance to finish fourth but insisted the clash against Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday is a must-win game for the Red Devils.
United were thrashed 4-1 by Manchester City in the Manchester derby at the Etihad on Sunday, leaving them a point off Arsenal in fourth place, having played three more matches than the Gunners.
In fact, it is only due to Man Utd and West Ham’s poor run of form that Antonio Conte’s men still find themselves in the race for fourth despite being beaten by the likes of Southampton, Wolves and Burnley over the last month.
Neville insisted it was vital that his former club finish fourth in order to attract a top manager in the summer and added that they need to get all three points against Spurs.
He told Sky Sports Premier League (7:45 pm, March 6, 2022): “If Man United don’t finish in the top four it’s going to be even harder to attract a top manager.
“If you’d have said a few months ago Arsenal could finish ahead of Man United, you would have been locked up. Amazing, a big turnaround for them, but United could still do it.’
“I still think United could do it (get fourth place). I don’t trust Arsenal fully. Manchester United have still got to go to Arsenal, there’s a long way to go. United have got to beat Tottenham next week.”
Micah Richards insisted that it was Mikel Arteta’s side who had all the momentum in the race for Champions League qualification.
He said: “Arsenal have got momentum, it’s all about momentum at this point. Watching Man United, I don’t think it’s as bad as we’re going on – I saw something in that first half.
“Arsenal have got the games in hand so if I was to pick (fourth place) right now it’d be Arsenal.”
Jamie Redknapp also backed Arsenal to pip United, Spurs and West Ham to fourth place, even suggesting that Chelsea would be looking over their shoulders at the Gunners.
The former Spurs midfielder said: ”I’ve watched an Arsenal team that are fast, hungry, scoring goals, and they did it without (Emile) Smith Rowe. Then I watched United, they’ve got to pick themselves up to get into this race.
“Mikel Arteta has been brilliant. I thought this season they might go under but it just shows if you stick with someone, give them time, he’s done a really good job and (in the race for fourth place) it’s Arsenal’s to lose. They’ve played a game less than Chelsea in third and are only five points behind.”
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As things stand, it does seem like the fourth spot is Arsenal’s to lose. However, there could still be many twists and turns left, with still over 30 points to play for until the end of the season.
Spurs are certainly underdogs at the moment but that could change in the next couple of weeks, with matches against Man Utd and West Ham coming up for Conte’s men.
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