Robin van Persie delivers Premier League title prediction amid Arsenal and Man City battle

Former Arsenal striker Robin van Persie is backing his old side to win this season's Premier League trophy ahead of Manchester City.

The north London outfit currently sit on top of the table, leading second-placed City by eight points, albeit Pep Guardiola's men do have a game in hand on their title rivals. Now, Van Persie has predicted the Gunners to overcome the Citizens in the crucial part of the season, admitting that he would be happy to see them end their 19-year league title drought.

“If you look at this period of time, it is when every single point really counts,” the Dutchman told Sky Sports when asked about Mikel Arteta's side. “They have had a couple of difficult games and got three points so that is what a champion team is made of and they have been proving that.

“The last stretch is always difficult and it will be interesting to see. My personal feeling is they will go for it and will win the league.

“It has been a while so I am happy for them to win it.” Van Persie played alongside Arteta in the Spaniard's debut campaign with Arsenal in 2011/12. However, the prolific forward decided to leave for Premier League rivals Manchester United just one year later, winning the league title in his first year with the Red Devils.