Wayne Rooney has shared his thoughts on the Premier League title race, stating that Manchester City hold a psychological advantage.
With Arsenal currently six points ahead but having played one more game, both teams are set to clash at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday in what is seen as a crucial encounter.
Speaking on The Wayne Rooney Show, the Manchester United legend explained that City’s experience and leadership give them the upper hand.
“I think City will have the edge on that, just purely the manager and players they’ve got. They will be able to stay a little calmer than the Arsenal players,” said Rooney.
“They will be worried because when you go on a run and lose a few games, you start thinking ‘where’s the next goal, the next win going to come from?’ That negative mindset really has an impact on your performance.”
Manchester City recently boosted their position with a 3-0 win over Chelsea, while Arsenal suffered a 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth.
Rooney also described the upcoming match as a potential “title decider,” adding that the winner would likely become favourites to lift the trophy.
He suggested that a draw might still benefit Arsenal but advised them to adopt a more defensive and resilient approach.
He added that Mikel Arteta’s side must “be tough to break down, make sure there’s no gaps between the lines and try to hit them on the break”.
He added: “Whether the fans like that type of football or not, they have to do anything to stop City winning. They need to be resilient enough to stop City from scoring.”