'Not the same team' - Gary Neville told why he got Arsenal 'chasers' title call wrong

Former Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit believes Gary Neville is wrong to suggest Mikel Arteta's side are better chasing the Premier League title this season rather than leading the way.

Last season, the Gunners were top of the Premier League for 248 days but still managed to finish runner-up to Manchester City. Arsenal's stint at the summit was the longest a side has led the English top flight and failed to win the title.

This season, Arsenal are in the role of chasers with Liverpool leading from the front by two points — although City will overtake Jurgen Klopp's men if they win their game in hand against Brentford. Discussing the title race earlier this week, Neville told Sky Sports: «It was around this time last year that there was a lot of pressure on Arsenal because they were so many points clear.

»Everyone thought they’d win the League. But now they are sat there in the pack, right on the shoulder, and it may suit them better.

«They’ve not produced their best form to this point but they have in the last couple of weeks started to look like they will hit the same form as last season that put them into a position of winning the league. They need to stay focused, calm and keep their players fit.»

However, in an interview with Betway, Petit disagreed with Neville's logic. He explained: «Gary Neville has said Arsenal being the chasers will help them in the title race but I disagree, Arsenal have grown up a lot this season.

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»They have become more mature individually and collectively and have learnt from their mistakes from last season. We saw against Liverpool that they destroyed them easily and I remember against City