Robin van Persie tipping ‘champion team’ Arsenal to end 19-year wait and win Premier League

Robin van Persie is tipping his former club Arsenal to end their 19-year wait for a Premier League title.

The Gunners last won the league under Arsene Wenger in 2003/04, and have had lean years in the top flight in recent times.

Unai Emery and Freddie Ljungberg did not have the impact that was hoped, but Mikel Arteta has transformed The Gunners’ fortunes.

He has put together an exciting, attacking team led by the likes of Granit Xhaka, Bukayo Saka, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Martin Odegaard, and they go into the final weeks of the season with an eight-point lead over defending champions Manchester City.

“If you look at this period of time, it is when every single point really counts,” the 39-year-old Van Persie told Sky Sports. “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.”

Van Persie spent eight years with Arsenal, joining from Feyenoord the season after their title win in 2004, and helped them secure the FA Cup in his first campaign with the club.

The Dutchman’s only Premier League title came with Manchester United in 2013, but would be delighted to see his former club get over the line and feels they will do it.

Van Persie, who played in the Weekend of Legends in Glasgow on Sunday, said: “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.”

In contrast, Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City are battling on three fronts – in the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup.