Gary Neville backs Manchester United to beat Arsenal to Premier League top-four finish

Gary Neville has backed Manchester United to beat Arsenal to the final Premier League top-four spot despite their demoralising Champions League exit.

Ralf Rangnick’s side wereknocked out of Europe by Atletico Madrid on Wednesday night, leaving the Red Devils to focus on their top-four aspirations as they look to at least partially save their season.

Manchester United are fifth with nine league games remaining, one point behind Arsenal who lost 2-0 to title contenders Liverpool last night.

Despite Arsenal’s setback, they are still the favourites to finish fourth ahead of United, Tottenham and West Ham as they have at least one game in hand over all of their top-four rivals.

But Neville believes there will be a twist in the top-four race and is backing Manchester United to recover from their Champions League exit and steal fourth spot from the Gunners.

‘It was a really bad night for Manchester United,’ Sky Sports pundit Neville said in reference to the Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid.

‘However, I don’t know why but I still think they could finish fourth. Whether that’s wild hope or the devil in me… but I still think they could do it and Arsenal might drop out.

‘It wouldn’t surprise me if they didn’t and if Arsenal finished fourth you’d have to congratulate them. But it also wouldn’t surprise me if United got it.

‘If I was a betting man, which I’m not, I would probably go for Manchester United. I don’t know why, but there’s something about them that makes me think they will do it.’

While Arsenal and Manchester United are virtually neck and neck in the race for fourth, Tottenham and West Ham are also firmly in the mix, sitting just three and two points behind the Gunners and Red Devils.

West Ham occupied fourth for much of