Who wins the title remains anyone’s guess, but Rooney told BBC Match of the Day the Gunners will be lifting the trophy and even predicted it could be by a “comfortable five points”.

“I think Arsenal will win it,” he said. “The fixtures are more favourable. I think they will win every game and Man City will slip up.

“I can see Arsenal being quite comfortable. They have been fantastic and top of the league most of the season. City’s fixtures are all quite congested.”

Hart, though, disagrees.

A two-time title winner with City in 2012 and 2014, he said: “I don’t care who Arsenal will lose to, I look at Man City and their spine is so long.

“It is full of multiple winners like Gianluigi Donnarumma. I am talking Rodri, Bernardo [Silva], Haaland. That is the spine I want to be part of. I think they will do whatever needs to be done.”

Meanwhile, reacting to Arsenal‘s win on Saturday, former Gunners forward Paul Merson told Sky Sports: “In his wildest dreams Arteta could not have asked for anything better.

“If Arsenal win their next three Premier League matches, Man City will have to pull up trees.

“They are always playing catch-up and that takes its toll in the end, knowing you have to win games just to stay in it.

“I would pick Arsenal just because of the fixtures they have. 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 on Sky Sports: “If it goes to goal difference, I see Arsenal have the big advantage when you look at the games.

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

“For City, the games are coming thick and fast and Mikel can look after his players just that little bit more.”