Arsenal
Aston Villa
Chelsea
Crystal Palace
Everton
Fulham
Leeds United
Liverpool
Manchester City
Manchester United
Newcastle United
Nottingham Forest
Southampton
Tottenham Hotspur
West Ham United
Wolverhampton Wanderers
News
Micah Richards and Gary Lineker decide whether Arsenal or Man City are favourites to win the Premier League after Rodri injury
After a fractious evening of football between Arsenal and Manchester City at the Etihad on Sunday evening, one particular moment could have a significant impact on the title-race.
Fairly innocuously, Rodri injured his knee in a clash with Thomas Partey, and the pain was clear to see on the Spaniard’s face.
Unfortunately, Rodri injured his ACL and may now miss almost an entire season of football – Man City’s chief commander in the middle.
Prior to the injury, City looked like firm favourites to win the Premier League ahead of Arsenal once again, even if Mikel Arteta’s side nearly earned an excellent win on Sunday.
But with Rodri now injured, who is undoubtedly one of City’s most important players alongside Erling Haaland, there’s now a fresh dynamic to the title-race.
Arsenal told they’re still not favourites to win the Premier League
Speaking on ‘’ podcast, both Micah Richards and Gary Lineker spoke at length about Rodri’s injury and the impact it could have come next May.
It’s fairly impossible to conclude that it won’t have an impact, especially given that Pep Guardiola doesn’t have an obvious alternative as a number six.
READ MORE: What rival Premier League coaches are saying about Arsenal with concerns sent to PGMOL
And although the two pundits stopped short of calling Arsenal the favourites right now, they certainly concluded that the pendulum had swung.
Summarising the conversation, Richards said: “In answer to your question, yes, I think it makes it more balanced in terms of Arsenal’s chances of winning.
“I don’t think it makes them favourites but I think it’s 50/50 now.”
Lineker added: “Yeah, I wouldn’t disagree with that.”
Perhaps some associated with Arsenal will have felt it was a 50/50 call beforehand anyway – they’re playing that well, but City would always normally be favourites given the inevitability of their winning.
Mikel Arteta ready to ring the changes against Bolton
Many feel that Arsenal eventually came up short in the title-race last season because their starting eleven was too fatigued after the turn of the year.
Arteta didn’t often rotate his starting side, perhaps because he didn’t feel as if he had the options to do so.
But Arsenal are expected to make seven changes against Bolton in the EFL Cup on Wednesday evening, which perhaps is an ode to change.
The Gunners rotated their squad in the competition last season, but didn’t enjoy the strength in depth they will have in some areas this time around.
Arteta has hinted that Raheem Sterling will start, a clear indicator of Arsenal’s strength right now.