Gary Lineker has doubled down on his assessment that Arsenal are strong favourites to clinch the Premier League title this season, despite their surprising FA Cup exit to Southampton. The Gunners currently sit nine points clear of Manchester City, who hold a game in hand and still have to host Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium.
Writing on The Rest is Football podcast, the former England striker warned that Arsenal must regain momentum quickly after the 2-1 defeat at St Mary's. “The next game or two for Arsenal are hugely important. They need to steady the ship,” Lineker said. “There's no doubt, they've got a huge lead in the Premier League - it's a nine-point lead. Obviously, City have got a game in hand and they play Arsenal at the Etihad, so it could go down to three and it has to go down to three really for them to have any chance, City I think. But it's squeaky bum time.”
Lineker added that he remains confident Arsenal will secure the league title, with the Champions League representing an enormous bonus for a club that has never won the competition. “I think they'll be fine. I think they'll win the league which will be the main thing for them. Champions League would be an enormous bonus because obviously it's a competition that they've never won,” he said.
Alan Shearer echoed Lineker's view, acknowledging the immense pressure on Mikel Arteta's side following the FA Cup loss. “They're under huge pressure, there's no doubt. Even Mikel's interview after the game tells you that but as I said earlier, you've always got the right to respond,” Shearer commented. “And three days after the game, they've got that. Football is crazy, you go into that game and if you win it, your confidence is back up again and everything's nice and rosy. So that's what they have to do because the noise will just get louder if they don't.”
Arsenal are back in action on Tuesday night in the Champions League against Sporting Lisbon, before hosting Bournemouth in the Premier League on Saturday. Meanwhile, Manchester City will face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, April 12, after their 4-0 FA Cup win over Liverpool.
