Premier League title race: Advantage Arsenal over Man City after Fulham win

It remains to be seen who will win the title, but Rooney told the BBC on Match of the Day that Arsenal would lift the trophy and even predicted it could happen with a “comfortable five points”.

“I think Arsenal will win,” he said. “The fixtures are more positive. I think they will win every game and Manchester City will make mistakes.

“I can see Arsenal being pretty comfortable. They’ve been fantastic for most of the season and top of the league. City’s fixtures are pretty tight.”

But Hart disagrees.

The player, who won the title twice with City in 2012 and 2014, said: “I don’t care who Arsenal beat, I look at Manchester City and they have a very long spine.

“It’s full of winners like Gianluigi Donnarumma. I’m talking about Rodri, Bernardo [Silva]Haland. This is the backbone I want to be a part of. “I think they will do whatever it takes.”

Meanwhile, reacting to Arsenal’s win on Saturday, former Arsenal striker Paul Merson told Sky Sports: “Arteta couldn’t have asked for anything better in his wildest dreams.

“If Arsenal win their next three Premier League games, Manchester City will have to take down trees.

“They’re always trying to catch up and that ultimately comes at the cost of knowing that you have to win games just to stay in the game.

“I would pick Arsenal just because of their fixtures. I expect both teams to win all their games and I think it will come down to goal difference.”

Former England midfielder Jamie Redknapp added to Sky Sports: “If we go on goal difference, when you look at the games I see Arsenal having a huge advantage.

“But we’re all making predictions. Man City can blow teams away, anything can happen. I think Arsenal are favourites, but I don’t think they’re 80% favourites.

“The games come thick and fast for City and Mikel could use a bit more attention on his players.”