Former England national football team captain Wayne Rooney believes the upcoming Premier League clash between Manchester City and Arsenal could decide the destination of the title.
League leaders Arsenal, who are currently six points clear but have played two games more, travel to the Etihad Stadium for what Rooney described as a defining moment in the title race.
Speaking on the Wayne Rooney Show on Sunday, he said City hold a crucial psychological advantage due to their experience and leadership under manager Pep Guardiola.
As reported by BBC Sport on Monday, Rooney was quoted as saying, “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,” Rooney said.
Despite Arsenal’s position at the top, recent results have increased the pressure on Mikel Arteta’s side. City’s 3-0 win over Chelsea came after Arsenal suffered a 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth.
Rooney warned that a dip in form can quickly affect confidence.
“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,” he added.
Source: Livescore