English football icon Gary Lineker has voiced his steadfast belief that Arsenal remain viable contenders for their first league championship in over two decades, despite a narrow 2-1 defeat to Manchester City. The high-profile loss at the Etihad Stadium marked a difficult stretch for the North Londoners, who have now suffered four defeats in their last six competitive outings.
The match provided immediate fireworks, with Rayan Cherki netting the opener in the 16th minute, only for Kai Havertz to restore parity for the visitors shortly after. However, a 65th-minute strike from Erling Haaland eventually secured the points for the defending champions. Despite the result, the Gunners sit atop the standings with 70 points from 33 fixtures, though City—currently on 67 points with a game in hand—could leapfrog them with a victory over Burnley this Wednesday, April 22.
Analyzing the title race on The Rest Is Football podcast, the former World Cup Golden Boot winner suggested that the battle for supremacy remains too close to call and dismissed the idea that Mikel Arteta’s side has already faltered under the pressure.
“It’s not impossible that it’ll come down to goal difference, and it is extremely close. It’s exciting for the neutral fans because you want it to be as competitive as possible right until the end, so in that regard, it was positive. I do feel a bit for Arsenal; they are experiencing some challenges, but they are still in the semi-finals of the Champions League, and they have a lot to fight for; they can still clinch the Premier League title.”
Lineker emphasized that the resilience shown by the squad suggests they are still capable of a historic campaign, urging observers to avoid premature conclusions regarding their mental toughness.
“Many will say, ‘Arsenal have choked,’ but this season could still be memorable for them. I’m not going to join the narrative that they will squander it; it’s too early to make that claim. They did demonstrate resilience, even though the outcome was not in their favor; things could have turned out differently.”
With the stakes continuing to rise, Arsenal face a grueling schedule that could define their season. They are slated to host Newcastle United this Saturday before shifting their focus to a massive UEFA Champions League semi-final clash against Atletico Madrid on April 29.
