Big Sam's Title Verdict
Former England manager Sam Allardyce has delivered his verdict on this season's Premier League title race, firmly backing Mikel Arteta's Arsenal to end their long wait for championship glory. The outspoken pundit believes the Gunners possess the perfect combination to finally dethrone Manchester City.
Defensive Solidity and Squad Depth
Speaking at a Sky Bet and British Heart Foundation event in Bolton, Allardyce highlighted Arsenal's remarkable defensive record as the foundation for their title challenge. "If you have the best defence in the league, it means you win the ball back quicker and are more creative anyway," the 71-year-old explained.
Allardyce pointed to the statistics that underscore his argument: Arsenal have conceded just five goals in their opening eleven Premier League matches, while champions Liverpool have shipped seventeen. This defensive resilience, combined with improved attacking options, creates what Allardyce sees as a championship-winning formula.
The former Bolton manager also expressed confidence that Arsenal can handle injury setbacks, specifically mentioning the temporary loss of defender Gabriel. "The strength in depth of Arteta's squad is better than ever now," Allardyce stated. "They and he are now experienced enough."
Rivals' Struggles Play Into Arsenal's Hands
Allardyce identified specific problems facing Arsenal's main competitors that could work in the Gunners' favour. He described Manchester City as "still going through a transition" while highlighting Liverpool's "massive problems with integration" of new players.
"Integrating new players into a new culture and a new environment is one of the most difficult things to do, no matter how much you spend," Allardyce elaborated. "You can never be totally sure of how well they will accept the environment they are going into. That is obviously causing them a particular problem at the moment."
With Arsenal currently sitting four points clear at the top of the table, Allardyce believes this could finally be their year after narrowly missing out previously. "They should have won it three years ago," he acknowledged. "I'm not being disrespectful to Mikel but they blew it. If they can handle the pressure, it would be great for the Premier League if someone else wins it."
Every Minute Matters Campaign
Allardyce made these comments while supporting the Sky Bet and British Heart Foundation's Every Minute Matters campaign, which aims to equip grassroots football clubs with lifesaving CPR and defibrillator skills. The initiative has already inspired over 350,000 people to start learning CPR since launching in May 2024.
The former manager recalled being deeply affected by Fabrice Muamba's cardiac arrest during an FA Cup match in 2012, when the Bolton player's heart stopped beating for 78 minutes. "Thanks to immediate CPR and defibrillation, Fabrice made a full recovery," Allardyce noted.
He urged everyone involved in grassroots football to take advantage of the BHF's free online training tool, RevivR, emphasizing that "anyone can learn these lifesaving skills" and that "you need to have the confidence to act" in emergency situations.
