Arsenal of City? Arteta's 'need to prove himself' is far greater
Title race could hinge on psychological advantage held by Guardiola's juggernaut
Guardiola's mentality can rub off positively, but can be negative for teams chasing
Arsenal are five points clear of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table after 15 matches. But former Manchester United defender Gary Neville believes the Gunners' lead is misleading.
Neville is worried about Arsenal's mentality in the title race. He believes that Manchester City have a huge psychological advantage over Arsenal because of their experience of winning titles.
"I think the pressure is far greater on Arsenal," Neville said. "They are a young team, and they have not won a title before. Manchester City have won four titles in the last five years, so they know what it takes to win.
"I think Arsenal's players will feel the pressure as the season goes on. They will start to think about what it would mean to win the title, and they will start to make mistakes.
"Manchester City, on the other hand, will be very relaxed. They know that they have the experience and the quality to win the title. They will not feel the pressure in the same way that Arsenal will.
Neville is not the only one who believes that Arsenal's mentality could be a problem. Former Arsenal player Paul Merson also has concerns.
"I think Arsenal have a lot of talent, but I'm not sure if they have the mentality to win the title," Merson said. "They are a young team, and they have not won anything before.
"I think Manchester City are the favourites to win the title. They have the experience, the quality, and the manager. I think they will be too strong for Arsenal in the end.
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