Arsenal’s Premier League title aspirations have come under sharp scrutiny after Gary Neville, the eight-time Premier League winner and Manchester United icon, declared the Gunners’ campaign “done” — drawing his conclusion not from the scoreline alone, but from the body language of midfielder Declan Rice.
The Gunners fell 2-1 to Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium last Sunday, a result that handed the Citizens control of the title race and pushed Arsenal off the top of the table for the first time in 200 days. Manchester City now lead on goal difference, with the championship battle entering a decisive phase.
In the immediate aftermath of the defeat, Rice was filmed on the pitch rallying his teammates with the words “It’s not done” — a moment that drew widespread attention and even a response from City manager Pep Guardiola, who praised the message as emblematic of Arsenal’s mentality. However, Neville interpreted the scene very differently.
Speaking on The Overlap, Neville offered a candid assessment of what he witnessed. “If I was watching Declan Rice, nearly in tears, saying ‘It’s not done’, I’d be thinking ‘you are done, mate’,” he said. “He wasn’t quite in tears, but he looked like [shakes head] ‘It’s not done’. I would look at him and think ‘he is done’.”
Despite delivering that blunt verdict, Neville was careful to distinguish between his analytical reading of the situation and his personal preferences. “I hope Arsenal win it,” he added. “It’s a good response, but I just didn’t feel confident [when he was saying it]. I am a big fan of him, and I thought he would potentially grip that game.”
Neville’s comments reflect a broader concern surrounding Arsenal’s recent form. The north London club have managed just one win in their last six matches across all competitions — a slump that has coincided with a critical stage of the domestic season. That run of results has placed significant pressure on Mikel Arteta’s squad as they attempt to claim a first league title since 2004.
Nevertheless, Arsenal retain a mathematical opportunity to swing the momentum back in their favour. Before Manchester City’s next Premier League fixture, the Gunners have the chance to open up a six-point gap at the top of the table. Their next assignment is a home fixture against a struggling Newcastle United on Saturday — a match Arsenal will be expected to win given Newcastle’s current poor form.
The title race itself remains open, with both clubs still possessing the fixtures and points available to finish first. Whether Rice’s rallying cry proves prescient or Neville’s scepticism is vindicated will likely depend on how Arsenal perform over the coming weeks — beginning with the Newcastle encounter at the Emirates.
