Phil Neville hails 'magnificent' Arsenal after Hull City win

Former Manchester United defender Phil Neville believes that Arsenal will go close to winning the Premier League next season.

The Gunners moved level with Manchester City in second place with a convincing 3-1 win at Hull City, and their first-half performance impressed the former England international, who has sensed a change in the last few weeks.

He told BBC Sport: "That was the best 45 minutes I've seen Arsenal play since the days of Patrick Vieira and Emmanuel Petit (1997-2000). It was a 'wow' performance. They popped the ball about, they had runners in behind, the work-rate, the togetherness, the vision.

"I just thought it was magnificent. I think this is a different Arsenal team. We've seen them play beautiful football before, but that was a winning-big-trophies type of football."

Critics of the North London side insist that they need to sign a new goalkeeper, and Neville also believes that it should be a priority for Arsene Wenger this summer.

He added: "I look at David de Gea and he has won five or six games for Manchester United with important saves. If Arsenal get a keeper in, they can be a championship-winning team."

Arsenal last won the Premier League in 2004.