Arsenal are top of the table at Christmas.placeholder image
Arsenal are top of the table at Christmas. | Getty Images
Mikel Arteta sees his Arsenal side sit two points clear at the top of the Premier League table ahead of Christmas.
Arsenal have managed to hold off a rampant run of Manchester City form to remain top of the table on Christmas Day as the back end of the Premier League season looms large.
The Gunners edged past Everton in a 1-0 win, that victory coming thanks to a Viktor Gyokeres penalty, having left it very late to pick up three points against struggling Wolves at the Emirates Stadium in the outing prior.
Mikel Arteta also saw his side beaten by Aston Villa earlier this month in what has been a somewhat turbulent few weeks. Meanwhile, title race rivals Manchester City have been in fine form, winning their last five matches across all competitions on an aggregate score of 13-1.
Tim Sherwood backs Arsenal to win Premier League
Arsenal will be aware of the pressure from Pep Guardiola and co. with Aston Villa also emerging as potential title challengers thanks to their form. The Villains are just three points behind the Gunners at this point of the season.
When appearing on Sky Sports on Monday morning, former Villa and Tottenham Hotspur boss Tim Sherwood was asked if he would rather have Arsenal’s two point lead at Christmas or be the chasers in Manchester City and Aston Villa.
He said: “I’d rather be Arsenal and take the two points. This league is going to be won by one or two points, or on goal difference, it’s going to be that tight. So I’d rather be where Arsenal are at the moment. If you asked Mikel Arteta which squad he would rather manage at the moment, I think he would take his own squad.
“Mikel must be looking in his rear view mirror and seeing that sky blue shirt coming at him. With Pep Guardiola there, he’s a serial winner and knows how to go course and distance. Arsenal will get edgy, they have worried me a little bit. The Wolves game worried me, they dropped off and looks a little bit anxious towards the latter stages of the game but got the job done.”
Gunners title charge could be catalyst to more silverware
Sherwood, who won the Premier League with Blackburn Rovers in 1995, went on to predict success for Arsenal not only this year but in seasons to come. He said: “You’d rather have the points in the bag. It becomes, who can keep their nerves? Arsenal have been top before at Christmas and haven’t gone on to win it. They’ve been there and know the noise will come. Everyone will start pointing the finger and saying they will bottle it.
“You have to break that duck sooner or later. When Arsenal do break it - and I think they will do it this year - they will be contenders and winners for many years to come. They will be in that dogfight. For not only the Premier League, for the Champions League as well. I just think they need to get over the line to give them that confidence of being there and doing it.”
In other news, Aston Villa handed fitness boost ahead of Chelsea, Arsenal and Crystal Palace clashes.
Continue Reading