‘Winning machine’ Manchester United backed for potential Premier League title charge in second half of season as Arsenal tipped to have ‘sticky spell’

Manchester United have been backed to mount a charge for their first Premier League title since 2013 following their 3-0 win over Bournemouth.

That is according to talkSPORT’s Micky Gray, who waxed lyrical over the Red Devils after their fourth consecutive top flight win.

Goals from Casemiro, Luke Shaw and Marcus Rashford sealed a comfortable win for United who were a class above the Cherries at Old Trafford.

Erik ten Hag’s side, who sit fourth in the table on goal difference, now trail leaders Arsenal by nine points after the Gunners were held to a 0-0 draw against Newcastle.

United are the Premier League’s most in-form team – and Gray believes they cannot be written off from being considered as legitimate title contenders.

And with Arsenal to host United at the Emirates later this month, Ten Hag’s men have the chance to further close the gap on the north Londoners.

Gray has also predicted Mikel Arteta‘s side to have a ‘sticky spell’ at some point this campaign despite the fact they’ve won 14 out of their 17 Premier League games.

Speaking on commentary for talkSPORT, the former England international said: “You look at what’s happening at Manchester United and where they find themselves in the Premier League table, they’re just a winning machine right now.

“We don’t know what the results are going to be and if you just start to close that gap come the end of the season, you know what pressure brings, and it brings nervousness to certain individual players when you haven’t won a title for so long.

“And I know Man United have not done it for a while, but Arsenal have not done it for almost 20 years now.

“So this second half of the season is going to be very, very entertaining, very exciting, and I can’t wait for it.”

He continued: “You can’t write anybody off at this part of the season, you look at that result and I believe Arsenal have wiped the floor with Newcastle, but they haven’t been able to pick up three points.

“They’re going to have more tests like that Arsenal because of the way that they play, I think sides will set up and make it difficult for them to break them down.

“We don’t know how much they’re going to miss Gabriel Jesus if they don’t do any business in the January window.

“As the season continues, when we get to the latter stages, Man United’s squad is very healthy and very strong, there is competition for places.

“As we know Manchester City and Newcastle have got fantastic momentum at the moment.

“I think you’re looking at those three sides below Arsenal and you cannot write them off.

“Arsenal are going to have a sticky spell in the season, we don’t know when it’s going to come, that might be the first game where it starts, we don’t know.

“So until they have that moment, let’s not write anybody off.”

But Ten Hag refused to comment on a potential title tilt in his post-match interview, saying: “We have to go from game-to-game.

“The next game is a [FA] Cup one [vs Everton], but we want to win every game.

“That has to be the approach. We don’t want to look any further, focus on that, it will be a tough game.

“We need every energy in the preparation and when we kick off on Friday night.”