Shearer Points to Liverpool Defeat as Arsenal's Lone Blemish
Premier League legend Alan Shearer has pinpointed Arsenal's solitary defeat against Liverpool as the one significant regret in their otherwise spectacular campaign. The Gunners, chasing their first league championship in over two decades, have been in formidable form across all competitions this season.
Shearer emphasised the irony of the situation during his analysis for Betfair. "It's ironic, isn't it, that Arsenal's only defeat was against Liverpool," he stated. "That looks like a bad result now, doesn't it? Liverpool have been absolutely shocking since then."
Arsenal's Dominant Form Across Competitions
Mikel Arteta's squad heads into their crucial London derby against Chelsea this weekend riding an incredible wave of momentum. Their midweek performance was a statement of intent, comfortably defeating Champions League group leaders Bayern Munich 3-1.
This victory cemented their perfect record in Europe, making them the only team to win all five of their opening Champions League matches. Their statistics are equally impressive, having scored 14 goals while conceding just one in the competition.
Shearer was full of praise for the squad's strength in depth, highlighting how they've seamlessly handled injuries. "They've got the strongest squad, there's no doubt," he said, pointing to examples like Noni Madueke returning to score and the effective substitutions of players like Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel Martinelli.
The Premier League Landscape and Title Implications
Arsenal currently enjoy a comfortable six-point cushion at the Premier League summit. Historical data strongly favours their position; on the six previous occasions a team has held such an advantage after 12 matches, they've all gone on to lift the trophy.
This weekend presents an opportunity to extend that lead to nine points, though a stumble at Stamford Bridge could see it reduced to just three. The Gunners haven't lost in any competition since that 1-0 defeat to Liverpool in late August.
What potentially works in Arsenal's favour is the lack of a consistent challenger. Last season's champions Liverpool have slumped to 12th place, while Manchester City's recent defeat to Newcastle saw Chelsea move into second position. The battle for runner-up remains volatile, with Aston Villa and even Crystal Palace potentially able to claim that spot after this weekend's fixtures.
Shearer concluded that "Arsenal have been the standout team by an absolute mile at the minute" in both the Premier League and Champions League. While acknowledging there's still a long way to go in the season, he recognised the growing belief within the Arsenal camp that this could finally be their year.
