In each of the last two seasons, Gary Neville has predictedArsenal will win the Premier League title; for a third successive time, he has again chosen Mikel Arteta's side as the team to lift the trophy. Quite frankly, the Gunners could do with the former Manchester United captain staying as far from predicting them as possible.

In 2023, Neville's belief grew from the idea that Manchester City would not be able to sustain their level after winning three trophies the previous campaign. Even with the number of games, they managed to hold off the Gunners' unbelievable second-half season run.

"I'm banking on three things," he told Sky. "Post-treble, have a little bit of a [drop off].

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"The difficulties over a season when you’re playing in Super Cups, Club World Cups. They haven’t got the biggest squad.

"With Haaland, last season, he only missed three matches. If he were to miss 10 or 15, like he did at Borussia Dortmund, I think that would be enough to give Arsenal a real chance."

In 2024, despite getting his prediction wrong the year before, Neville maintained that what had happened the season just gone would indicate a stronger challenge would follow. However, after 27 injuries, the Gunners' hopes were dashed before they truly got going.

"Arsenal had an incredible season, so I was not a million miles away. They are getting nearer, and I feel they will do it. Pep Guardiola wins all the time, but I feel Arsenal are so consistent that this could be the year."

Ahead of the new campaign, Neville spoke of how tight the race is between the three top sides and how their recruitment in the market will be the difference this time. From the Gunners' perspective, Martin Zubimendi was key at Old Trafford, but Neville believes another player will be more important.

"I couldn't separate Arsenal, Manchester City or Liverpool," he said. "I think they're absolutely all in with an equal chance of winning it.

"Arsenal have been consistent over the last three years; they've been second. I do feel they'll get there at some point.

"I went for the team I've been going for the last three years. They're reliable, solid, and consistent, which is important. They just have to sort that forward bit of the pitch out, and I think Viktor Gyokeres will."

Now the time has come for Arsenal to break this curse and, begrudgingly, prove Neville right this time around. Some things in life are just simply more important, it turns out.