Former England goalkeeper David James has reaffirmed his belief that Arsenal are still the team to beat for the Premier League crown, despite Manchester City cutting their lead at the summit to just two points.
Title Race Twists After Dramatic Weekend
The landscape of the Premier League title race shifted significantly over the weekend of December 6, 2025. League leaders Arsenal suffered a deflating last-gasp 2-1 defeat away at Aston Villa, shortly before defending champions Manchester City secured a routine 3-0 victory over in-form Sunderland.
Pep Guardiola's side, demonstrating their relentless pedigree, cruised to victory with a first-half brace from defenders Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol. Phil Foden then added a third after the break, marking his fifth goal in just three games. This result propelled City back into second place, applying immediate pressure on the Gunners.
At Villa Park, Arsenal's formidable run hit a stumbling block. Despite Leandro Trossard cancelling out Matty Cash's opener, Emi Buendia struck a dramatic winner with virtually the last kick of the game, sending the home crowd into raptures and throwing the title race wide open.
James Analyses the Contenders' Credentials
Analysing the fallout for Stadium Astro, David James suggested the result at Villa Park revealed a potential chink in Arsenal's armour. He noted that Mikel Arteta's side looked "a bit vulnerable" when they conceded, offering hope to their rivals.
However, James was quick to temper expectations around Manchester City's title charge, pointing to their own occasional inconsistencies. "The interesting thing with Man City is they're capable of losing games themselves at the minute," James stated. "I don't think they're the finished article by any stretch. Erling Haaland is the talisman for them but if you can keep him quiet you've got a good chance of stopping Man City."
He concluded that while Villa showed the blueprint to trouble Arsenal with "strength, ability and determination", the North London club remain the frontrunners. "What's encouraging for the other clubs is when Arsenal do concede, they do look a little bit vulnerable... But that's not to say Arsenal aren't still the favourites," James asserted.
Injury Concerns and the Long Road Ahead
James's view was echoed by former Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill, who told Premier League Productions that any team finishing above Arsenal will likely win the league. He praised Arteta's focus and the team's "fantastic run" and inherent strength.
Nevertheless, a pressing concern for Arteta is a growing injury list, particularly in defence. Arsenal legend Ray Parlour expressed his worry about the timing of these setbacks. "It's definitely a concern," Parlour said. "A lot of the defenders are out, those injuries are stacking up now. This time of year is so congested, it's a really crucial period."
With the Gunners seeking their first league title since 2004, having finished as runners-up for the past three seasons, navigating this period of adversity will be critical to ending their long wait.
