Paul Merson has sensationally claimed that Arsenal’s dominant 4-0 win over Leeds United is the sport that ‘won them the Premier League title’.
Arsenal had seen their lead at the highest of the table cut to only 4 points after a slight blip in form, which saw them pick up two points from their last three matches.
The Gunners faced a potentially tricky visit to Elland Road on Saturday, but responded in emphatic fashion with a snug victory to reaffirm their title credentials.
Mikel Arteta’s side went ahead through Martin Zubimendi’s header and doubled their lead after Noni Madueke’s cross was became Leeds’ net by Karl Darlow.
And after the break, Arsenal made sure of the result, Viktor Gyokeres turning home Gabriel Martinelli’s cross before Gabriel Jesus scored late on off the bench.
The result sees Arsenal temporarily re-establish a seven-point lead over Manchester City and Aston Villa, who each return to motion on Sunday against Tottenham and Brentford, respectively.
But Merson believes that the character of Arsenal’s win can have rubber-stamped his former side as this season’s champions in waiting.
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‘Leeds is a tough place to go in the intervening time and so they’ve been playing the perfect football of the season for them,’ Merson said post-match on Sky Sports.
‘But truthfully, it was like boys versus men at times they absolutely brushed them aside. For Arsenal, A+. I can’t emphasis enough what a giant football result that was and what a performance it was as well.
‘They kept the ball, were patient, never really fussed but they dominated all around the pitch with their movement and set plays.
‘For me, that was the sport that won Arsenal the Premier League.’
Explaining his daring statement further, Merson added: ‘What Arsenal have just done is even when Man City go to Tottenham and draw that game, it’s still six points.
‘In order that’s two more games that’s, and there’s not lots of games left. So City must go and win, nevertheless it’s not a simple place to go.’
Saturday’s result was also a vital one for Gyokeres, who made it goals in back-to-back games for the primary time since joining Arsenal.
Assessing the Swedish striker’s display, an impressed Merson said: ‘I feel he done thoroughly, and I feel that’s what to procure him for.
‘To carry the ball up, play it easy and provides other people the ball. He must have had a pair, he was a bit slow with one other probability, but not many players rating his goal. Pure strength.
‘I don’t like using the word bullied, but he kept the defender off and he just got his foot to it. But his hold-up play was decent, and I believed he was good.’
Arteta, meanwhile, was impressed by the character of his side’s performance after a run of form within the league which had left some fans and onlookers concerned.
‘Mentality is sweet. And the mentality, I discussed it to you, to play with that level of enjoyment about where we’re, after which with the conviction to imagine in what we do and the way good we’re, and that we will beat any opponent,’ he said post-match.
‘And we actually done that, but then you’ve to indicate the standard as well on this league to do it, and it got here out in great ways from different players as well.’
Arsenal return to motion in midweek for the second leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final against Chelsea.
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