Ray Parlour says Arsenal must avoid becoming ‘overconfident’ ahead of their clash with Everton, warning Mikel Arteta’s players a ‘bad spell’ could follow if complacency creeps in.
Arsenal ensured they moved seven points clear at the highest of the Premier League table with a nervy 1-0 victory away to Brighton last Wednesday night.
Elsewhere, Elliot Anderson fired an unstoppable 25-yard strike beyond Gianluigi Donnarumma as second-placed Manchester City were held to a 2-2 draw at home to relegation-threatened Nottingham Forest.
The Gunners have the primary leg of their Champions League last-16 tie with Bayer Leverkusen up next, before playing host to Everton in what guarantees to be a tough match on the Emirates.
The Toffees have won three of their last five matches within the English top flight entering Saturday’s contest and it can be a case of master versus apprentice when David Moyes is reunited with Mikel Arteta on the touchline in north London.
Nevertheless, many Arsenal fans have already began to stay up for April 19 when their side travel to City for has been billed as a possible title decider on the Etihad.
Discussing Arsenal’s title hopes heading into an important period, club legend Parlour said on talkSPORT: ‘I’m confident but I don’t wish to overshoot it.
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‘I do know Piers Morgan said they’re going to win it in March, this, that and the opposite, but I don’t wish to be saying things like that because I know the way hard it’s and you might get a nasty spell.
‘But they’re in an amazing position and sometimes you possibly can be overconfident, can’t you?’
Parlour defended Arsenal’s tactics in the course of the side’s turgid clash with Brighton, after which Fabian Hurzeler took aim at David Raya and accused Mikel Arteta’s men of ‘time-wasting’.
‘We used to attempt to do it if we were leading or whatever, you’ve got to attempt to see games out,’ the ex-Arsenal and England midfielder explained.
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‘The benefit of that game was that they weren’t excellent, they were poor as a team, but they won the sport.
That’s what it comes right down to. You don’t analyse each game if you finish the season with the trophy in your hands, saying, “Remember the Brighton game? We didn’t play that well did we? We got lucky there”, you simply embrace the moment as champions of England.
‘That’s an important thing so you possibly can try any form of tactics but I believe it’s somewhat bit unfair, all this talk of set-plays. Set-plays are a part of the sport!’
In response to Parlour, the weekend commencing April 11 – when Arsenal face Bournemouth and City tackle Chelsea – could prove a ‘defining moment’ on this yr’s race for the Premier League title.
‘Arsenal play Everton at home and that’s when Manchester City go to West Ham, which isn’t a simple game. They’re having an actual battle in the intervening time,’ he added.
‘After which, Arsenal have gotten Bournemouth at home at the exact same time as Manchester City travel to Chelsea.
‘So two home games from Arsenal’s perspective they usually’re pretty strong at home and Manchester City are travelling away from home in order that could possibly be the defining moment, who knows?’
Arsenal survived a second-half scare to beat League One outfit Mansfield Town and secure their spot within the FA Cup quarter-finals on the weekend.
After Will Evans had cancelled out Noni Madueke’s opener shortly after half-time, Eberechi Eze got here on and scored what proved to be the winning goal with the standout moment of quality within the tie.
‘It was an excellent strike from Eze against Mansfield,’ Parlour said of Arsenal’s 2-1 victory at Field Mill.
‘It was at all times going to be a difficult afternoon due to pitch, they’re not used to playing on pitches like that… no excuses.
‘But I assumed Mansfield were superb, I actually thought they went on the market, it was their cup final.
‘It only takes a few players who don’t fancy it. what it’s like, different surroundings, not as nice because the Emirates and other grounds within the Premier League and that’s when you possibly can get beat.
‘I’ve been in games myself… Port Vale back in 1998, we had Carlisle United back in 2001 they usually’re difficult games because they’re right up for it and when you’re not up for it, you get beat. It’s so simple as that.
‘So Arsenal did the job, they got the job done and now they will sit up for the draw.’
Will Arsenal end their wait for the title this season?
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