Wayne Rooney Backs Arsenal as Premier League Favourites After Man United Defeat

Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney insists Arsenal remain Premier League title favourites despite a dramatic home loss at the Emirates Stadium.

Former Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney has backed Arsenal as favourites to win the Premier League despite their dramatic 3–2 home defeat to United on January 25, 2026.

Speaking to BBC Sport, Rooney played down the impact of the setback and insisted that Mikel Arteta’s side remain the strongest contenders in the title race.

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Arsenal made a fast start at the Emirates when Lisandro Martinez turned the ball into his own net under pressure, handing the hosts an early advantage.

Manchester United, led by caretaker manager Michael Carrick, responded before the break. A lapse in Arsenal’s defence allowed Bryan Mbeumo to finish clinically and restore parity.

United took control after half-time when Patrick Dorgu fired in a powerful strike to put the visitors ahead. Arsenal showed character to respond through Mikel Merino, whose equaliser set up a tense finale.

However, the decisive moment arrived in the 87th minute as Matheus Cunha curled a superb effort past David Raya, sealing a famous comeback win for United.

The defeat marked Arsenal’s first home loss of the 2025/26 Premier League season.

Rooney: “Arsenal Are Still Slight Favourites”

Despite Arsenal’s recent dip, Rooney remained confident in their title credentials.

“I think Arsenal are still title favourites,” Rooney said. “It will be a concern for Arteta what’s happened in the last three games, but I still think they’re probably slight favourites.”

Rooney praised United’s second-half display and credited Carrick for restoring belief within the squad following a difficult spell earlier in the season.

The result reduced Arsenal’s lead at the top of the table to four points, with Manchester City closing the gap and Liverpool remaining firmly in contention.

For United, the victory followed an impressive win over City and lifted them into the Champions League qualification places, strengthening their push for a top-four finish.

Defender Harry Maguire described the result as “absolutely massive,” highlighting United’s resilience and growing confidence under interim leadership.

Arteta Faces Mentality Test

Mikel Arteta now faces the challenge of ensuring Arsenal respond positively to adversity. With key fixtures approaching in both domestic and European competitions, consistency and composure will prove decisive.

Rooney’s backing underlines Arsenal’s strong body of work this season, but their response to this setback may define whether they convert promise into silverware.

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