Michael Owen has expressed his belief that Arsenal may not reach the same heights as Manchester City and Liverpool, despite acknowledging their potential to win the Premier League. Mikel Arteta’s team currently leads the league table by four points heading into the November international break. This is a significant moment for Arsenal, who are aiming to secure their first league title since 2004.
Arsenal had an impressive run of ten consecutive victories before a recent draw against Sunderland. However, this minor setback allowed Manchester City to capitalize on their performance, defeating defending champions Liverpool 3-0 and moving up to second place. This result has narrowed the gap between the two teams and raised questions about Arsenal’s ability to maintain their lead.
Despite the challenges, Owen believes that Arsenal still have a strong chance of winning the title. He pointed out that the team’s defensive strength is a key factor in their success. “Arsenal’s strength is their defense,” he said on Premier League Productions. “They’ve got a great goalkeeper and a really good back-four which is protected really well.”
Owen also highlighted the efficiency of Arsenal’s play. “They play to their strengths and don’t concede many goals so for a newly-promoted team [Sunderland] to score two against them is a brilliant achievement.” When asked if the Premier League title was “Arsenal’s to lose,” he responded, “Possibly… they are a fair few points ahead.”
He added, “You ask anybody and they’ll probably say Arsenal are the favourites at the minute so it’s going to take a good effort to beat them.” Owen emphasized that Arsenal’s consistency and efficiency make them difficult to beat. “I can’t see them dropping too many points because they’re very efficient. Leading the race brings its own pressure but the way they play, they’re so efficient.”
However, Owen acknowledged that when all teams are at their best, both Liverpool and Manchester City have the potential to outperform Arsenal. “If Arsenal, Man City and Liverpool all play at their very, very best, I think Arsenal are still probably the third-best team. When everyone is at their absolute best, Liverpool can blow anyone off the pitch and so can Man City.”
He continued, “With Arsenal it’s about not making many mistakes. I can see them grinding away, maybe having a few draws. Their style of play might just make them plug on all the way and make them hard to beat.”
Jamie Carragher, an ex-Liverpool and England defender, echoed similar sentiments. He rated Arsenal as the “best team he’s seen this season” but noted that Arteta and his team might feel nervous about the threat posed by Manchester City. “I think Arsenal will be nervous because it’s Man City,” he told Sky Sports. “They’ve done this before.”
Carragher also mentioned that Arsenal might experience some anxiety during the latter part of the season. “Given how long it’s been since they won the title, there’s no doubt that everyone at Arsenal will get a bit twitchy if they’re top come the second half of the season.”
As the Premier League season progresses, the competition between these top teams remains intense. Arsenal will face Tottenham in a north London derby after the international break, while Manchester City will look to keep the pressure on by playing against Newcastle United. Liverpool, on the other hand, will aim to regain their form against Nottingham Forest.
The race for the Premier League title continues to be one of the most exciting aspects of the season, with each team bringing their unique strengths and strategies to the table. As the season unfolds, fans can expect more thrilling matches and unpredictable outcomes.