Paul Merson has claimed in The Daily Star that if Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal win against Everton and Antonio Conte’s Tottenham Hotspur get points off of Manchester City in the Premier League this weekend, then the Gunners will win the title.
For sure.
Arsenal will take on Everton away from home at Goodison Park in the Premier League on Saturday.
On Sunday, defending champions Manchester City will lock horns with Tottenham away from home at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the league.
Former Arsenal star and Sky Sports pundit Merson has said that if Mikel Arteta’s side win this weekend and City drop points at Tottenham, then the Gunners will win the league title.
Paul Merson on Arsenal and Manchester City title race
Merson wrote: “Call me mad but the title could be done this weekend if Arsenal win at Everton and Manchester City drop points at Tottenham. I just don’t see Arsenal dropping points frequently – nor do I envisage Man City beating them twice.”
Wild claim
In our view, Paul Merson’s claim about Arsenal is simply wild and unrealistic.
There is no way that Arsenal can claim to have won the title this weekend even if City lose.
There is still too much football to be played between now and the end of the season.
Arsenal are five points clear at the top of the Premier League table at the moment, and they also have a game in hand.
Let’s say Arsenal win this weekend and City lose.
That would extend the Gunners’ advantage over the Citizens to eight points.
Are we really going to expect Arsenal to win all of their remaining matches in the Premier League this season?
Do we really think that the Gunners will not drop points between now and the end of the season?
Can anyone guarantee that Arsenal will not have one or two major injury problems, even though they have coped with the loss of Gabriel Jesus just fine?
And let us not forget that Manchester City are a well-oiled machine who are used to winning Premier League titles and can easily go on a winning run of eight or nine matches.
They have done that before.
It is only the first week of February.
Arsenal will not get carried away, even if Merson seems ready to.
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