David James has named the ‘favourite’ to win the Premier League after Manchester City closed the gap on title favourites Arsenal.
Man City clinched a routine 3-0 win over in-form Sunderland shortly after Arsenal’s deflating 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa.
Sunderland have exceeded expectations during their return to the Premier League but were no match for Pep Guardiola’s side, who were 2-0 up at half-time because of goals from Ruben Dias and Josko Gvadiol.
Phil Foden continued his superb form along with his fifth goal in three games, Man City climbing back as much as second within the Premier League, now just two points behind Arsenal.
Arsenal have been by far the very best team in England this season but dropped points for the third time in five games at Villa Park.
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It looked as if Leandro Trossard’s second-half goal would earn the Gunners a degree after Matty Money broke the deadlock for Unai Emery’s side.
But Emi Buendia rifled home a dramatic winner with virtually the last kick of the sport as Villa stormed into title contention.
Ex-Premier League goalkeeper David James said Arsenal looked ‘a bit vulnerable’ against Villa and insisted it was possible for teams to bother Mikel Arteta’s formidable defence.
But while James has given the opposite title contenders hope of ‘reducing the gap’ to Arsenal, he still views the Gunners as ‘favourites’ to win the Premier League.
‘The interesting thing with Man City is they’re able to losing games themselves on the minute,’ James told Stadium Astro.
‘I don’t think they’re the finished article by any stretch. Erling Haaland is the talisman for them but should you can keep him quiet you’ve got an excellent likelihood of stopping Man City.
‘What’s encouraging for the opposite clubs is when Arsenal do concede, they do look a little bit bit vulnerable.
‘Villa showed strength, ability and determination and if the opposite teams can do that they might reduce the gap on Arsenal.
‘But that’s to not say Arsenal aren’t still the favourites.’
Ex-Aston Villa boss Martin O’Neill also believes Arsenal remain the team to beat within the Premier League title race.
The Gunners haven’t won the league since 2004, ending as runners-up for the past three seasons.
‘Mikel Arteta sounded pretty focused after the sport and so he should because they’ve been on a implausible run,’ O’Neill said on Premier League Productions.
‘Okay, they’ve conceded within the last minute and that may hurt, definitely. They need to begin again next weekend because they’ve got an actual strength about them and a is not going to to lose and that ought to stand them in great stead over the course of the season.
‘The reality is I believe all of us think that if any team finishes above Arsenal this season they’ll win the league.’
One among the pressing issues for Arteta is the growing variety of Arsenal players within the treatment room and Ray Parlour is ‘concerned’ by his former club’s injury issues.
‘It’s definitely a concern,’ Parlour said. ‘Plenty of the defenders are out, those injuries are stacking up now.
‘This time of yr is so congested, it’s a really crucial period. Mikel has got to attempt to manage the squad and get a number of players fit.
‘That will probably be a disappointing trip back to Birmingham today, conceding late on is at all times s disappointing but that you must bounce back, that’s what good teams do.
‘Mikel Arteta will probably be a bit concerned but Arsenal need to take care of it.’
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