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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Jack Flintham

Former Man City midfielder makes surprising Arsenal admission amid Premier League title battle

Ex-Manchester City midfielder Stephen Ireland admits he'd be happy if Arsenal beat his former club to the Premier League title.

Ireland's allegiances still sit with the Blues having made 175 appearances for City's first team. However, he has enjoyed watching the Gunners under former City coach Mikel Arteta.

Speaking to Euro 2024 Odds, the 36-year-old said: "It’s going to be tough, but Arsenal are flying at the moment and their morale will be so high. The momentum they have got is incredible, there has got to be a hiccup somewhere - it is just a case of how many of them there will be.

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"Everyone is on the edge of their seats and it’ll be so interesting for everyone watching. It’s so hard because you can literally flip a coin, honestly I do not know.

"It would be great if City could catch them, but I would also be really happy for Arsenal if do it - I really would. Arsenal play some incredible football and even managing to scrape some results when they need to as well is so impressive. They’ve played some great football, but I am just trying to watch it as a neutral and trying to enjoy it as what it is."

Pep Guardiola's side are currently eight points behind Arsenal after the Gunners beat Crystal Palace 4-1 on Sunday. City have a game in hand due to their involvement in the FA Cup and the Blues still have to host Arsenal at the Etihad.

When asked if he wished he could have played under Arteta, Ireland said he admired the approaches of both the Gunners boss and Guardiola.

"Absolutely, I would have loved [to play under Arteta] if the timing aligned with the right manager and the right style of play," he said. "I wish Pep would have came earlier than before I left.

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