Arsenal still favourites for Premier League title remains Wayne Rooney’s firm belief, despite Manchester City closing the gap and intensifying pressure in the title race.
The former Manchester United and England captain has backed Mikel Arteta’s side to go all the way this season, insisting Arsenal still possess the depth, balance, and resilience required to lift the Premier League trophy.
Arsenal currently sit top of the Premier League table, holding a narrow two-point advantage over reigning champions Manchester City as the season approaches its decisive phase.
Although the Gunners recently suffered a setback with a defeat to Aston Villa, they responded positively by edging past bottom-placed Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–1 at the Emirates Stadium.
That response, according to Rooney, is exactly what separates genuine title contenders from teams that fade when pressure mounts.
Speaking on the evolving title race, Rooney maintained that Arsenal remain the team to beat, even while acknowledging City’s growing momentum.
“I still think Arsenal are the favourites to win the league,” Rooney said. “But it’s going to be really interesting if Man City stay close to them.”
The former striker believes City’s presence alone creates a psychological test for Arsenal’s players, many of whom have experienced painful title run-ins in recent seasons.
“That will bring back memories for the Arsenal players of having the lead before and Liverpool or Man City snatching it off them,” Rooney explained. “It will be interesting.”
Arsenal’s recent history has seen them lead the title race deep into campaigns, only to be overtaken late by Pep Guardiola’s relentless City side.
Rooney suggested that this lingering memory could become both a challenge and a motivation for Arteta’s squad during the run-in.
“Arsenal are still favourites for me,” he continued, “but City are looking good. I still fancy Arsenal with the squad they have.”
One of Rooney’s key reasons for backing Arsenal favourites to win Premier League title glory is the depth and flexibility Arteta now commands.
Unlike previous seasons, Arsenal are no longer reliant on a small core of players, with quality options available across defence, midfield, and attack.
Rooney acknowledged, however, that Manchester City are beginning to look ominous once again, particularly as they approach the business end of the campaign.
“City are looking good and dangerous again,” Rooney warned, “and that could disturb Arsenal come the end of the season.”
Despite his admiration for City’s quality, Rooney admitted he is personally rooting for Arsenal to finally end their long wait for a league title.
“I hope it doesn’t,” he said. “I would love Arsenal to win it, but that would be my concern if I was an Arsenal fan.”
Rooney also stressed that Arsenal’s players would be naive to ignore City’s threat, given the champions’ proven ability to dominate the final months of a season.
“The Arsenal players would be crazy if they weren’t worried about Man City,” he added.
Mikel Arteta’s side have shown significant maturity this season, combining attacking fluency with improved defensive stability and greater control in tight matches.
That evolution, Rooney believes, has positioned Arsenal better than in previous title pushes, even if the margins at the top remain extremely fine.
City’s experience, depth, and serial-winning mentality mean they are unlikely to drop many points, ensuring Arsenal must maintain near-perfect consistency.
For Rooney, the title race will likely be decided not just by quality, but by nerve, focus, and the ability to handle pressure in decisive moments.
As the Premier League season enters its defining stretch, Arsenal favourites to win Premier League title status remains intact in Rooney’s eyes, but only if they can withstand the familiar storm created by Manchester City’s late surge.
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