{"id":316079,"date":"2026-04-09T21:55:31","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T16:25:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/?p=316079"},"modified":"2026-04-09T21:55:31","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T16:25:31","slug":"paul-merson-backs-chelsea-at-hand-arsenal-the-title-ahead-of-man-city-football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ebiztoday.news\/index.php\/2026\/04\/09\/paul-merson-backs-chelsea-at-hand-arsenal-the-title-ahead-of-man-city-football\/","title":{"rendered":"Paul Merson backs Chelsea at hand Arsenal the title ahead of Man City | Football"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n\t\t\t<\/div>
Paul Merson believes the title race will probably be over this weekend (Picture: Sky Sports)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Paul Merson believes Arsenal may have \u2018one trophy within the bag\u2019 following this weekend\u2019s Premier League fixtures.<\/p>\n

The Gunners, chasing a primary league title in 22 years, will move 12 points clear at the highest of the table in the event that they beat Bournemouth on the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.<\/p>\n

Mikel Arteta\u2019s side suffered back-to-back defeats for the primary time this season either side of the international break, first losing to title rivals Manchester City within the Carabao Cup final after which crashing out of the FA Cup against Championship side Southampton.<\/p>\n

Arsenal produced one other somewhat underwhelming display against Sporting within the Champions League on Tuesday night but ground out a 1-0 win due to Kai Havertz\u2019s injury-time goal.<\/p>\n

Merson believes his former club will return to top form by dispatching Bournemouth on the weekend and believes the Premier League title race will then be \u2018over\u2019 as he backed Chelsea to frustrate Man City.<\/p>\n

Pep Guardiola\u2019s title-chasing City outclassed Arsenal in a Wembley final last month before thrashing reigning Premier League champions Liverpool 4-0 within the FA Cup.<\/p>\n

Those results have caused concern amongst Arsenal fans but Merson expects Manchester City\u2019s ominous form to finish at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"Sporting\t<\/div>
Mikel Arteta is closing in on the Premier League title (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018Arsenal\u00a0are on a little bit of a wobble, aren\u2019t they? I told you last week that the FA Cup game was a banana skin they usually were knocked out by Southampton,\u2019 Merson told Sportskeeda<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u2018Bournemouth are on an honest unbeaten run. But the issue is they simply can\u2019t win games.<\/p>\n

\u2018I feel like persons are getting a bit carried away by hyping them up for being unbeaten. In the event you don\u2019t win enough games, it is senseless in my view.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"Manchester\t<\/div>
Pep Guardiola\u2019s Man City are chasing Arsenal (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018I personally think the\u00a0Premier League\u00a0title race will probably be over this weekend. I\u2019m backing Arsenal to win, which implies they go 12 points clear of Manchester City. I don\u2019t consider City will beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.<\/p>\n

\u2018I\u2019m predicting a snug win for Mikel Arteta\u2019s team. Arsenal will probably be relieved they not less than have one trophy within the bag after this weekend.\u2019<\/p>\n

Chelsea suffered back-to-back Premier League defeats either side of an embarrassing Champions League exit by the hands of PSG before the international break.<\/p>\n

\n
\n\t\t\"Chelsea\t<\/div>
Liam Rosenior is already under pressure at Chelsea (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Liam Rosenior\u2019s side returned to winning ways on the weekend, beating League One basement boys Port Vale 7-0 within the FA Cup.<\/p>\n

\u2018Chelsea are on a poor run of form in the meanwhile and this can be a tough game, but I don\u2019t expect them to get beat here,\u2019 Merson added.<\/p>\n

\u2018Manchester City\u00a0are drawing too many games within the league and Chelsea away is just not a simple fixture for them.<\/p>\n

\u2018Persons are talking loads about Arsenal bottling the league, but during the last five league games, they’ve won two points greater than City!<\/p>\n

\u2018So I don\u2019t think Arsenal are doing that bad, especially with City also dropping points.<\/p>\n

\u2018The subsequent two games will define Liam Rosenior\u2019s future at Chelsea and I expect Chelsea to present City strong competition on this game. I\u2019m going for a draw here, which essentially means Arsenal to win the league.\u2019<\/p>\n

For more stories like this,\u00a0check our sport page<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Follow Metro Sport for the newest news on
\nFacebook<\/a>,\u00a0<\/strong>Twitter<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Instagram<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Arrow<\/title>\n<\/use><\/svg>MORE: Alan Shearer sends Anthony Gordon transfer message to Arsenal<\/span><\/p>\n

Arrow<\/title>\n<\/use><\/svg>MORE: Tottenham suffer recent Mohammed Kudus injury setback<\/span><\/p>\n

Arrow<\/title>\n<\/use><\/svg>MORE: Enzo Fernandez\u2019s agent sends message to Chelsea over Real Madrid transfer<\/span><\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tComment now<\/title>\n<\/use><\/svg><\/span>
\n\t\t\tComments<\/span>
\n\t\t<\/a>
\n\t\t\t\tAdd Metro as a Preferred Source on Google<\/title>\n<\/use><\/svg><\/span>
\n\t\t\t\tAdd as preferred source<\/span>
\n\t\t\t<\/section>\n
\n
\n

Football Newsletter \u2013 In The Mixer<\/h4>\n

Punchy evaluation, transfer talk and more from Metro’s football experts, sent straight to your inbox every week.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n