Fulham star Bernd Leno hopes Arsenal keep pushing to win a Premier League title. But he warns that there is still a long way to go with Manchester City ‘breathing down your neck’.
The Gunners have mounted a surprise push for the top-flight crown this season to sit five points clear at the top. Mikel Arteta’s team also hold a game in hand over Pep Guardiola’s defending champions. And they can even go eight clear with a win at Everton on Saturday.
It was only last term that Arsenal missed out on qualifying for the Champions League after a late collapse. Tottenham Hotspur edged their north London rivals for a top-four finish by just two points. Arteta’s side had fourth place in their hands going into their penultimate match.
This term also marks Arsenal’s sixth season without Champions League football having last qualified for the 2016/17 season. Yet Arteta has the Emirates Stadium side leading the way with a Premier League-best 16 wins and league-low two draws and one loss in 19 matches.
Only Manchester City (53) over 20 games have also scored more goals than Arsenal (45) so far this season. While only Newcastle United (11) have conceded fewer than the Gunners (11). Nick Pope (12) is the only goalkeeper on more clean sheets than Aaron Ramsdale (9).
Bernd Leno now reveals his Arsenal ‘hope’ in a Premier League title warning
Ramsdale took over between the sticks at Arsenal from Leno in September 2021 following his £24m, rising to £30m with add-ons, transfer from Sheffield United. Leno later left north London for west London and Fulham. He joined the Cottagers in August 2022 for only £8m.
Leno is still in contact with some people at Arsenal as the Gunners look to win the Premier League title. He also hopes to see his former side keep up their surprise push for the club’s first crown since 2003/04. But the German admits it will not be easy with Manchester City.
“I’m happy for my former colleagues,” Leno has told Sky Germany. “I’m still in contact with some people at the club. I’ve always had a very good relationship with the fans, too.
“When we played there with Fulham, they celebrated me. I hope the lads are marching on. But, of course, it’s a long way, especially when you’ve got Manchester City breathing down your neck.”
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