Former Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan doesn’t think Arsenal would beat Manchester City to the Premier League title. The Gunners lead the title race, holding an eight-point lead over second-placed City after 18 games.
Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Hugo Lloris’ own goal and Martin Odegaard’s impressive strike secured all three points for Mikel Arteta’s side in the north London derby on Sunday (January 15). It further strengthened the Gunners’ grip on the Premier League title race.
Meanwhile, Manchester City suffered a 2-1 defeat to their neighbours Manchester United in the Manchester derby on Saturday (January 14), boosting Mikel Arteta’s side’s hopes of a first league triumph in nearly two decades.
Jordan talked about the ongoing Premier League campaign and said that it has been a strange one, perhaps due to the 2022 FIFA World Cup break or managerial decisions. He told talkSPORT:
“I think there’s 19 games to go obviously, and I think there’s a lot more twists and turns. It’s a very interesting Premier League, a very strange Premier League. I don’t know whether you attribute it to the World Cup, or you attribute it to bad decisions from manager at the start of the season.”
However, Jordan disagrees that the Gunners are now favourites to win the Premier League, as he reckons City would get back into form:
“I think Arsenal are in a unique vein of form at this moment of time. I think it’s wrong to compare what happened in May with Tottenham where Arsenal were on a wobble, while Tottenham came through that. Arsenal are improving exponentially. I still think there’s questions as to whether Arsenal can win the league (though).”
The Gunners’ win at Tottenham was the first time they won an away north London derby in the leauge since 2014. When the pressure has been on, Arteta’s side have come out with flying colours.
Next up for the three-time Premier League champions is the visit of fourth-placed Manchester United to the Emirates on Saturday (January 22).
Arsenal’s William Saliba seeking revenge over Manchester United this weekend
William Saliba was part of the Gunners side that suffered their only defeat in the league this season – a 3-1 reverse at Manchester United on September 4. It remains the only blight on what has been a remarkable season for Arteta’s men.
If they hadn’t lost to the Red Devils, they would have been on course to replicate their historic ‘Invincibles’ Premier League-winning campaign in 2003-04 under the legendary Arsene Wenger.
Saliba is now seeking redemption over Erik ten Hag’s side on Saturday. He said (via the Evening Standard):
“We know we have a big game this week. We know they beat us.”
He added:
“They are the only team to beat us this season in the Premier League, and we want to beat them again at home. We will prepare very good for this game, I think, and I hope we will win in front of our fans.”
Manchester United will move to within six points of the Gunners if they complete a league double over Arteta’s side at the Emirates this weekend.
