Gabriel Agbonlahor predicted Man City win over Arsenal and called Rob Holding a ‘Championship defender’

Gabriel Agbonlahor’s scarily accurate prediction for Arsenal’s defeat against Manchester City came true – but he’s admitted he now has sympathy for Rob Holding.

The Gunners lost ground in the race for the Premier League title, suffering a 4-1 defeat at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday.

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Agbonlahor told talkSPORT before the match that Holding would be the weak link in the Arsenal backline, suggesting Haaland would target him.

“Holding for me is a Championship defender and not good enough to be centre-half at a team that wants to win the title,” he said on after his display in the 3-3 draw with Southampton.

“Since Saliba has been injured, they’ve conceded nine goals in five games, three draws in a row. That’s not championship form.

“Manchester City will put three or four past Arsenal. Haaland will be in the changing room saying ‘I can’t wait to play against Holding and Gabriel.”

Agbonlahor’s prediction was spot on with Man City comprehensive victors on Wednesday night.

But the former Aston Villa striker admitted he had sympathy for Holding in the aftermath of the drubbing.

He told the Sports Breakfast: “I sort of felt sorry for Holding.

“Everyone is criticising him, but he’s just not at that level. When we said Haaland would be licking his lips, that’s just the truth.”

Breakfast host Alan Brazil added: “What do you mean you feel sorry for him? You probably put him off his game saying he’s a Championship defender.”

Gabby replied: “He’s just not good enough.”

Kevin De Bruyne gave Man City lift off in the win with a delightful curled strike, before John Stones then made it 2-0 before the break.

City added a third early in the second half, with De Bruyne grabbing his second of the night.

Holding, who also received criticism from Perry Groves, then managed to get onto the scoresheet late on, before Erling Haaland finished the job off.

Pep Guardiola’s men now sit two points behind Arsenal with two games in hand as the Premier League title race goes down to the wire.