Title Hopes Dashed for Chelsea Despite Second Place
Former Premier League goalkeeper Shaka Hislop has delivered a brutal assessment of Chelsea's title credentials, ruling the Blues out of the championship race despite their climb to second place in the table.
The controversial comments came after Arsenal dropped crucial points in a dramatic 2-2 draw against newly-promoted Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.
Dramatic Collapse at Stadium of Light
Mikel Arteta's side saw their sensational winning run come to an abrupt halt in injury time when Brian Brobbey equalised for the Black Cats. The Gunners had been on course for their 11th successive victory in all competitions after coming from behind.
Dan Ballard's opener for Sunderland was cancelled out by Bukayo Saka before Leandro Trossard put Arsenal ahead, seemingly securing another three points. However, Brobbey's late intervention denied the league leaders what would have been an eight-point advantage at the summit before Manchester City's clash with Liverpool on Sunday.
Hislop's Blunt Assessment
Despite Chelsea's comfortable 3-0 victory over managerless Wolves that propelled them to second position, Hislop remained utterly unconvinced about their championship prospects.
When asked on ESPN if he believed Chelsea could win the title this season, Hislop responded: "No, no chance. Should I give you a percentage? 0.5%. They won't win the league. If you offered me 1000/1 for Chelsea to win the league, I still wouldn't take that bet right now."
The former West Ham and Portsmouth goalkeeper doubled down on his position when challenged, insisting: "Yes you can [say Chelsea will never win the title this season]. You can."
Liverpool legend Steve Nicol offered a slightly more measured perspective, stating: "You can say never. But I would be very surprised if Chelsea won the Premier League."
Arteta's Mixed Emotions
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta described the late equaliser as a "kick in the stomach" but maintained perspective about his team's overall position.
"They make it really hard for you," Arteta said of Sunderland. "It's not a criticism. My feeling is that we should have won it. Credit to them, it was the type of game that they wanted to throw you in and you have to handle that."
The Spanish manager highlighted the challenges his squad has faced, noting they've had seven attacking players injured, limiting rotation options during a demanding fixture schedule.
Despite the disappointment, Arsenal remain clear favourites to secure their first Premier League title since the legendary Invincibles campaign of 2004, with Manchester City and Liverpool still positioned as their primary challengers.
Chelsea's significant summer investment following their fourth-place finish last season appears insufficient to convince pundits like Hislop that they can mount a genuine title challenge, setting up an intriguing battle for supremacy as the season progresses.
