Wrighty's 2008 predictions

IT is now a three-horse race for the title — Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United.

Despite having a game in hand, Liverpool are a little too far off.

Avram Grant's Blues have the quality. Yet while they scored four against Aston Villa, I still think they will struggle to find the net consistently without Didier Drogba.

I now rate their chances of winning the championship as slimmer compared to a few weeks ago.

As for my old club Arsenal, no one expected them to have been leading the table at this stage.

I am not sure, though, if they have the players with the experience to grind out results in the second half of the season. The Boxing Day draw at Portsmouth proved that.

Kolo Toure and William Gallas are the only first-team stars to have had a major involvement in a Premier League title- winning season.

In 2003-2004, when Arsenal last won it, Gael Clichy made only a few league appearances, while Cesc Fabregas was involved just in the League Cup.


Million Times

I feel Arsenal need a bit more experience before they are ready for another title but they will still go close this season.

For the Premier League winners for 2007-2008, I am going with Manchester United — certainly on current form.

I think Sir Alex Ferguson's men are the best equipped to keep their form going right to the end and have the players to dig themselves out of a hole in the tough matches when things are not going too well.

As for the final Uefa Champions League spot, I hope Manchester City get it.

As I have said a million times, I backed Liverpool to win the title and the team has disappointed me.

Kop boss Rafa Benitez seems more interested in the Champions League than the Premier League. So for this reason I think City will nick fourth spot.

Anyway, here's to a terrific second half of the season. Happy New Year!

IAN WRIGHT has played for Arsenal as a centre-forward in the past,scoring 185 goals in 279 games in his whole career with the Gunners. He was talking to CHARLIE WYETT,
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