Alan Shearer picks out the result that would cost Arsenal the Premier League title | Football

Alan Shearer was impressed by Arsenal’s performance against Manchester City and claims the side’s previous defeat to Bournemouth could actually be what ‘costs’ them the Premier League title.

City moved to inside three points of Arsenal due to a 2-1 victory over Mikel Arteta’s men in Sunday’s top-of-the-table showdown, with Erling Haaland scoring the decisive goal on the Etihad.

Kai Havertz dragged the Gunners back into the competition after a calamitous error from Gianluigi Donnarumma within the 18th minute, which got here just moments after Rayan Cherki had opened the scoring with a moment of genius.

But Havertz squandered an enormous opportunity to cancel out Haaland’s strike on the death, after Eberechi Eze had hit the woodwork, and the league leaders will little question be ruing their missed possibilities over the approaching days.

The result means City – who’ve a game in hand over Arsenal – will go top should they get the higher of lowly Burnley at Turf Moor of their next encounter on Wednesday night.

Arsenal return to motion at home to Newcastle on Saturday evening, a match that appears like a must-win for Arteta’s side after a wretched run of only one victory of their last six games in all competitions.

‘Where was this last weekend against Bournemouth?’ Shearer said of Arsenal’s performance against City on The Rest Is Football podcast.

‘Where was this energy and where was this performance and where was this forward-thinking Arsenal against Bournemouth last weekend?

‘Because I feel that’s the result that may cost them the league slightly than this weekend.

‘They were just so flat [against Bournemouth] and I though they were really good against Manchester City, you may’t complain an excessive amount of about their performance.

‘I assumed it was a great game, they created plenty, they went right up against Manchester City and thought, “We’ll take you on”, and I assumed it was a superb game.’

Though Shearer believes City at the moment are the favourites to win the title, he’s confident there’ll still be a ‘twist or two’ to are available the remaining games of the campaign.

‘Arsenal had their moments, the possibilities they missed, the one-vs-one, the Havertz header right at the top, but you have got to fancy Manchester City now,’ the ex-England and Newcastle striker added.

‘With that last six or seven weeks, with their performances, who they’ve beaten and the way they’ve beaten them, you’d still need to fancy them.

‘But I still don’t think each teams will go and win every game this season, I feel there can be a twist of two.’

Shearer, the Premier League’s all-time top goalscorer, joked that Arsenal not less than had the good thing about facing an out-of-sorts Newcastle side riding a four-game losing streak of their next match.

‘I do think there’s going to be twists and turns, I don’t think every team will win every game between now and the top of the season. If only football was that easy… it’s not,’ he went on.

‘Having been in that position myself, I understand how they’re feeling and I genuinely don’t imagine each teams will win every game.

‘The excellent news for Arsenal is that they’ve got Newcastle next weekend who’re absolutely s***.

‘That’s the excellent news to return out of the weekend, Arsenal have gotten Newcastle at home next weekend!’

Asked if City mustn’t be considered the favourites within the title race, Shearer replied: ‘Yes. They’ve got their game in hand against Burnley in midweek, they’ve got the momentum and so they’ve got the shape.

‘Yeah, they’re favourites now, they’re definitely favourites.’

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