Former Arsenal defender Emmanuel Eboue has delivered a stark warning to his old club, insisting the Premier League title race is far from over despite their healthy lead at the summit.
Gunners Lead But Pressure Mounts
Mikel Arteta's side currently sit six points clear at the top of the table with 48 points from 20 matches. Their quest for a first league championship since the famous 'Invincibles' season of 2004 is gathering pace, but Eboue believes the chasing pack remains dangerously close.
Manchester City and Aston Villa are their nearest challengers, both locked on 42 points, while the reigning champions Liverpool are in fourth place, a significant 14 points adrift. However, the Reds have a game in hand and travel to face Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium this Thursday, a fixture Eboue highlighted as a potential turning point.
Eboue's Verdict on the Challengers
Speaking exclusively to Ladbrokes at the launch of their Ladisfaction promotion, the Ivorian icon outlined why he believes the battle involves four teams. "I think we've got four teams still in the title race this season," Eboue stated. "I think Arsenal and Manchester City will obviously be up there, but I don't think Aston Villa or Liverpool are out of it yet."
He reserved special praise for Unai Emery's Aston Villa, who have surprised many with their sustained challenge. "Aston Villa are so close in points to the top of the table, and they've done incredible up to this point this season," he said. "It's going to be tough, for sure, but I don't think you can rule them out."
On Liverpool's prospects, Eboue pointed to their improving form and the relentless schedule. "Yes, they started bad, but you can see they're finding a bit more form now. This is such a busy period in the season, and that gap can close drastically in the space of a couple of weeks."
Arteta's High-Stakes Season
Eboue, who made over 150 appearances for Arsenal, expressed a mixture of hope and anxiety for his former club. He admitted a key concern is the squad's depth for a multi-front trophy assault. "For me, Arsenal don't have enough players to compete for every trophy, and so for that reason I'm scared," he confessed.
He believes the pressure is now squarely on manager Mikel Arteta after three consecutive second-place finishes. "He's under pressure now because the fans have had years of watching their team playing really good football without anything to show for it," Eboue analysed.
The former full-back set out the stark reality facing the Spanish coach. "If they don't win the league this year, it's going to be very, very hard for Arteta." With Arsenal also among the favourites in the Champions League, failure to land a major trophy this season could have serious consequences. "If they finish the season with neither of those trophies, I think it's going to be really difficult for him," Eboue concluded.
Despite his fears, Eboue's heart ultimately rules his head. "I still have to say Arsenal win the league though; the club is my family... I really hope that this is the year they win the title." The coming months will reveal if his loyalty is rewarded or if his cautious prediction of a fierce three-team rivalry proves accurate.
