Liam Grace
Published January 9, 2026 5:48pm
Updated January 9, 2026 5:48pm
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Roy Keane says Mikel Arteta will be ‘pleased’ with Arsenal’s six-point lead over Man City (Picture: Getty)
Roy Keane has claimed that Arsenal are ‘red-hot favourites’ to beat Manchester City in this season’s enthralling Premier League title race.
The Gunners could’ve gone eight points clear of second-placed City on Thursday but a 0-0 home draw with Liverpool means Pep Guardiola’s side are just six points behind, with 17 games left in the 2025-26 campaign.
Arsenal have not yet played Pep Guardiola’s side away from home in the top-flight this term, with that must-watch fixture set to take place in April.
Mikel Arteta’s men have finished as runners-up for the last three seasons in a row, missing out to City in 2022-23 and 2023-24 respectively.
City finished third last season after somewhat of a drop-off but they have been crowned champions of England in four of the last five campaigns.
Keane, though, is adamant that Arsenal will get the job done this time around and clinch their first Premier League trophy in 22 years.
‘He’ll be pleased, the manager (Mikel Arteta),’ Manchester United icon and football pundit Keane told Sky Sports after Arsenal’s draw with Liverpool.
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Arsenal face Nottingham Forest in their next Premier League match (Picture: Getty)
‘Six points clear after 21 games, what a position to be in. But you have to believe Manchester City and Aston Villa will hunt them down.
‘It will be an interesting few weeks in the [January transfer] window. Will clubs strengthen? We’ve seen what City want to do.
‘At this moment in time, Arsenal are obviously red-hot favourites to win the title.’
Manchester City are strengthening their squad in the January window (Picture: Getty)
The day after Keane’s comments, City officially announced the signing ofAntoine Semenyo from AFC Bournemouth in a deal worth around £65m.
It is also reported that City are increasingly confident of landing Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace for around £30m in the coming days.
Keane calls out two Arsenal players
Meanwhile, Keane was not impressed with Arsenal duo Declan Rice and Myles Lewis-Skelly after their performances in the 0-0 draw with Liverpool.
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‘They (Arsenal) were good defensively but they looked as though they lacked a bit of belief,’ Keane added.
‘Which is bizarre when you look at a team that is absolutely flying.
‘At the top of the table, Liverpool are coming, who are missing some important players. Just flex your muscles and send a message to the other teams that you’re going to go onto the next level.
‘Rice was a bit sloppy. Lewis-Skelly didn’t even look ready to come onto the pitch. If Liverpool had a bit more about them, it would have been worse for Arsenal.’
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