Wayne Rooney makes Premier League title prediction involving Arsenal and Manchester City

Manchester United icon Wayne Rooney reckons Manchester City will pip Arsenal to the Premier League title.

The Gunners are atop the standings, holding an eight-point lead over City, having played a game more, with ten games remaining. However, Rooney doesn't think that will be the case come May, as he's backing City to turn the tide and retain their crown.

He told CNN that the reigning champions' experience would pay dividends:

"I think Manchester City will be there. They’ve won the league the last few years; they’ve won titles; they have a very experienced coach in winning titles in Guardiola, so I’m intrigued to see if Arsenal hold out or if City can use their experience in previous years and nick the title off them."

Rooney knows all about winning the Premier League, as he did so on five occasions with Manchester United. He has ruled his former side out of the race, though, and thinks City will win their fifth league title under Guardiola:

"I think City will pip them (Arsenal) to it. I think United are almost out of it now – not fully – but almost. If you’re asking me who I want to win it between Arsenal and City, then I hope Arsenal do win it."

The Gunners have been guilty of faltering from promising positions over the years. None more so than how they surrendered a potential top-four finish last season with three games to go.

However, the current Arsenal team have been a different beast under Arteta. They have shown grit and determination that has long eluded the Emirates outfit. Memorable comeback wins over Aston Villa (4-2) and Bournemouth (3-2) could prove to be season-defining as they chase their first league title in nearly two decades.

The Gunners face relegation candidates Leeds United on Saturday (April 1) looking to keep their winning run in the league going, having won their last six. Meanwhile, title rivals City host top-four contenders Liverpool at the Etihad in Saturday's early kick-off.

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Manchester City's Nathan Ake thinks his side can catch Arsenal

Manchester City will close the gap on Arteta's side to five points if they beat Liverpool before the Gunners clash with Leeds later in the day. The Cityzens need to keep pace with the north London giants who are racing towards a surprising title triumph.

Ake, though, feels City can still catch the Gunners and that the title race would go right down to the wire, telling SportBible:

"I think it's going to go right to the end. It's very tight. Everything can change. We still have to play them at home, so that's going to be a massive, massive game. We know, from now on, that every game is going to be vital. If you lose one point, if you lose two points."

The Dutch defender also thinks that the Gunners have a more difficult run-in than the Cityzens:

“I think all of Arsenal's remaining games are difficult, to be fair. In some of our previous games, we dropped points to teams that people didn't expect us to drop points against. But they lost against Everton, too. Every game in the league is so difficult."