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Alan Shearer. | Getty Images
Alan Shearer has predicted what the Premier League title race will look like after this weekend.
Alan Shearer has predicted how the Premier League title race will look after this weekend’s action. Arsenal are hoping to protect their five-point lead at the top of the table, although the lead is the equivalent to a two-point lead in the minds of most, with Manchester City having a game in hand.
Mikel Arteta’s men dropped the ball by blowing a two-goal lead against Wolves during the week, ultimately drawing 2-2 and potentially allowing City to make up more ground.
With the two sides still to face off before the end of the season, both teams effectively now have their respective fates in their own hands, and that’s a position City were dreaming of after their under-par start to the season.
As for Arsenal, they must keep their cool, knowing they have their own fate in their hands and that consistent form will end their title drought.
This weekend, Arsenal face Tottenham in the North London derby, while Manchester City take on Newcastle United in a tricky game of their own. Predicting the latter game, Alan Shearer wrote for Metro: “Well, it’s going to be a minimum of five games that Newcastle play Man City this season, it could even be six, depending on what happens in the Champions League if Newcastle were to get through the round of 16 as well as Man City, then they could meet each other again, but five times guaranteed with the draw in the FA Cup.
“I mean, with Newcastle’s form at the Etihad, it’d take a brave man to predict anything other than a Man City win. As much as it hurts me, probably because of that, Man City. Newcastle are going to be full of confidence off the back of three straight away wins. But it hasn’t helped that Man City have had a free week and Newcastle had a long journey on a Wednesday when they’re playing on a Saturday night. So, yeah, it’s a big ask for Newcastle, but they’re in good form away from home.
“I just look at their record at Manchester City and it’s dreadful. So, it’d take a brave man to predict anything other than a City win.
“City will be raring to go for this. I mean, there’s no doubt that they would have watched the Arsenal game. Pep would have watched the Arsenal game and now they’ve now got to go and put the pressure back on. They play before Arsenal this weekend again, so, it’s their turn to put the pressure back onto Arsenal for their game on Sunday. Prediction – Manchester City win .”
As for Arsenal’s derby date, Shearer predicted: “Arsenal have to win the game. I mean, it’s pretty simple. It would be a disaster if they didn’t, and they’re not in great form, losing a 2-0 lead in the way they did against Wolves, they go into it under huge pressure. It might even be more if City beat Newcastle on Saturday night.
“But Spurs give me no confidence, even with the new manager bounce, that they would hope that they’re going to get so I’m going to say an Arsenal away win. Prediction – Arsenal win.”
With those predictions, there will be no change in the title picture, with the five-point gap for Arsenal but with a City game in-hand remaining intact.
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