Paul Merson makes daring title claim after Arsenal draw with Chelsea | Football

Paul Merson has backed Chelsea to complete above Manchester City this season but believes Arsenal will still win the Premier League title ‘easily’.

Sunday’s top-of-the-table clash between Arsenal and Chelsea finished 1-1 with Mikel Merino cancelling out Trevoh Chalobah’s opener at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea began brightly but were dealt a significant blow just before half-time as superstar midfielder Moises Caicedo was sent off for a late tackle on Merino.

The hosts recovered from the setback to take a surprise lead after the break – Trevoh Chalobah heading home to attain just the seventh goal that Arsenal have conceded this season.

Premier League leaders Arsenal responded well and equalised through Merino’s header but couldn’t discover a winner, returning to north London with just a degree.

The derby stalemate leaves Arsenal five points clear at the highest of the Premier League, with second and third-placed Manchester City and Chelsea separated by just a degree.

Arsenal will look to return to winning ways on Wednesday when one other London rival, Brentford, visit the Emirates Stadium.

Merson expects his former club to brush aside the Bees and insists he ‘can’t see anybody touching Arsenal’ within the title race.

‘Arsenal have dropped points against Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea, but they’re winning against everyone else and that’s making a difference,’ Merson told Sportskeeda.

‘When you told Arsenal at the beginning of the season that they were going to have a run where they face Tottenham, Bayern Munich and Chelsea within the space of every week and are available away with two wins and a draw, they’d have taken all of it day long.

‘Manchester City are still the closest challengers for Arsenal and so they were nowhere near good against Leeds.

‘Even after the draw against Chelsea, I can’t see anybody touching Arsenal at the highest of the table. In the event that they can take care of their players well, I believe they’ll easily win the league this season.

‘A snug win against Brentford at house is coming up. I’m going for Arsenal 3-0.’

Merson was ‘impressed’ by Chelsea’s performance against the title favourites and says Enzo Maresca can be ‘super blissful’ with the result.

While he doubts Chelsea’s title credentials, Merson says the Blues can finish above second-placed Man City and expects their momentum to proceed once they face Leeds United on Wednesday.

‘You’ve got to be impressed by the best way during which Chelsea played against Arsenal,’ Merson added.

‘To have your best player, your engine, sent off and still play that form of football against a team like Arsenal, Enzo Maresca can be super blissful.

‘We at all times say Chelsea are a really young team, but they’ve loads of players who’re full internationals for his or her country. Despite being young, most of them have considerable experience playing at senior level.

‘Taking a look at Chelsea’s squad, they surely have it in them to complete above Manchester City this season.

‘Leeds is an enormous game for Chelsea fans because they don’t get along thoroughly with their Leeds counterparts. It’s a rivalry that stretches back to the Nineteen Seventies.

‘Elland Road can be rocking and Chelsea could have to watch out. In the primary 20 minutes, the gang can be firmly behind Leeds and the hosts can be buzzing.

‘Chelsea must weather that early storm after which they’ll play their football and go on to win it.’

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