Gary Lineker now persuaded to make U-turn on Man City and Arsenal title verdict

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Arsenal's 2-1 defeat at home to Bournemouth on Saturday has seen Gary Lineker change his mind on who he thinks will win the Premier League title race this season

Gary Lineker now believes Manchester City will claim the Premier League crown ahead of Arsenal this season after being pressed by Micah Richards. Mikel Arteta's outfit are faltering following a surprising 2-1 home loss to Bournemouth on Saturday.

Gunners supporters would have anticipated that Tuesday's 1-0 win at Sporting in the Champions League might have reignited their campaign. That victory came after disheartening losses in the Carabao Cup final to City and the FA Cup against Championship outfit Southampton.

Yet Arsenal seemed to seize up against Andoni Iraola's men and were thoroughly outclassed by the 11th-placed Cherries. Goals from Junior Kroupi and Alex Scott, sandwiching a Viktor Gyokeres spot-kick, dealt a significant blow to their hopes of securing a first Premier League championship since 2004.

The Gunners' setback was further compounded by second-placed City cruising to a 3-0 victory at Chelsea on Sunday - merely a week before they face Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium. Pep Guardiola's men now trail Arteta's side by just six points, while holding a game in hand.

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The contrasting fortunes of both City and Arsenal have now prompted football pundit Lineker to reveal on The Rest is Football podcast that he believes Guardiola's squad will emerge victorious, despite backing Arsenal throughout most of the season.

When quizzed by pundit and former City player Richards about his views on the title race, he said: "I've always thought, 'Well Arsenal will be fine, they're not going to choke, they'll be all right.'

"But since he's changed back to the three at the top, and the way Arsenal are stuttering and have lost their form at the moment.

"You know how important momentum is in not just football, in all sport. Momentum is so important, and all the momentum now is with City.

"So I think it's so tough to call now... but if you need to put your life on the line – which I'd hate to have to do under these circumstances – I'd probably now go City because I think they will win next week, but you never know."

Arsenal face Sporting in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final on Wednesday before the potential title showdown at City. Arteta has vowed an immediate turnaround.

The Spaniard said: "We're going to do it, for sure.

"Because the way we all feel now with the hope and the ambition that we have for this game, we're going to see an immediate reaction, I'm convinced about that."