Paul Scholes believes Arsenal could ‘canter’ to the Premier League title despite their indifferent record against the teams around them.
The Gunners, who last won the league in 2004, boast a seven-point lead at the highest of the table ahead of Sunday’s clash with Manchester United.
Mikel Arteta’s team were second or maybe even third favourites to win the Premier League before the season began, behind reigning champions Liverpool and Manchester City.
But Liverpool’s miserable run of form towards the tip of last 12 months, combined with City’s poor recent results have given Arsenal a commanding lead within the title race.
Perhaps the one criticism that might be thrown the way in which of Arsenal this season is their record against the division’s other top sides.
Arteta’s side have already played five of their six league matches against the remainder of the present top 4 – City, Aston Villa and Liverpool – but have won on only one occasion.
Scholes thought that Arsenal’s record in those games can be defining for his or her title hopes this season, but the previous United midfielder conceded which may not matter now given the inconsistent nature of the chasing pack.
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‘One thing Arsenal haven’t done is that they haven’t won a giant game, beat a Liverpool or a Man City, they still haven’t done it,’ Scholes told The Overlap Fan Debate with Sky Bet.
‘And I said earlier within the season that I can’t see them winning the league unless they begin beating those sorts of teams.
‘But taking a look at what number of points Liverpool and City are dropping, I don’t think they’ll need to. I feel it might be a canter for them.
‘In other years passed by, City or Liverpool can be closer, and that’s the time when you may have to win those games.’
Standing in Arsenal’s way this weekend is Scholes’ former side, who will little doubt be buoyed by their impressive display in Michael Carrick’s first match as interim head coach.
The Red Devils coasted to a 2-0 win against City, and Scholes believes that fans can be demanding Carrick made everlasting if he continues in that manner until the tip of the season.
‘Michael Carrick didn’t do loads that was unexpected [against Manchester City],’ he said.
‘He had a few players back from the African Cup of Nations which made a difference – Harry Maguire as well – I assumed he was good next to Lisandro Martínez as well.
‘Like what happened with Ole Gunnar Solskjær, if Carrick does well until the tip of the season, United fans will demand it [that he stays] – especially if he gets to second or third.’
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