Arsenal have developed into Premier League title challengers under Mikel Arteta this season despite suffering some difficult moments earlier his reign at the Emirates Stadium
Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville has once again hit back at Arsenal fans regarding his Mikel Arteta prediction last season. Gunners supporters have taken aim at Neville a number of times this term after he continuously refused to change his Premier League title prediction, despite Arsenal's amazing form.
During last season, Neville claimed that if Arteta was able to lead Arsenal to a fourth-place finish in the Premier League then that would be 'as good as it gets'. Speaking on The Overlap, the United legend said: "If Arteta finishes fourth this season (2021/22 campaign), it's almost in some ways as good as it can probably get - it's sad."
When asked if it would be a stepping stone in Arsenal's progression, Neville responded: "To what? Pep [Guardiola], [Jurgen] Klopp, United, Chelsea...where can they possibly go? They cannot compete!
"Mikel Arteta, for me, I think he's a brilliant coach. I love the idea that when I see a team and I can see the maximum is being achieved with that group of players.
"But, he gets to fourth and if he was really hard about it he'd probably say, 'right well that's the best I can do'. It sounds crazy!"
Arsenal fans have now reminded Neville of his bold prediction, with the Gunners on the brink of winning their first Premier League title since 2004. The United icon has hit back at jokes being made about his comments last season in a tweet as he wrote: "One year ago you lot were asking for him to be sacked!!!!"
There were indeed plenty of calls for the Arsenal boss to be sacked after a disappointing end to the 2021/22 campaign, but now he is proving those doubters wrong. The Gunners have an eight-point lead over City with 10 games left as Arteta aims to become the first manager since Arsene Wenger to lift the Premier League trophy with Arsenal.