Owen's Contrarian Title Verdict on Arsenal
Former England striker Michael Owen has delivered a surprising assessment of the Premier League title race, backing Arsenal to become champions while simultaneously claiming they possess a lower ceiling than their main rivals, Manchester City and Liverpool.
This intriguing contradiction comes after a pivotal weekend where the Gunners' lead was cut. Mikel Arteta's side saw their ten-match winning streak halted by a 2-2 draw with Sunderland, a result that allowed Manchester City to close the gap to four points after they thrashed defending champions Liverpool 3-0.
The Efficiency vs. Flair Argument
Analysing the title contenders on Premier League Productions, Owen pinpointed Arsenal's defensive solidity as their greatest strength. 'They’ve got a great goalkeeper and a really good back-four which is protected really well,' he stated. 'They play to their strengths and don’t concede many goals.'
However, Owen presented a fascinating hierarchy of pure footballing power. 'If Arsenal, Man City and Liverpool all play at their very, very best, I think Arsenal are still probably the third-best team,' he claimed. 'When everyone is at their absolute best, Liverpool can blow anyone off the pitch and so can Man City.'
Owen's title prediction hinges not on peak performance, but on relentless consistency. He argued that Arsenal's style makes them uniquely equipped to grind out results even when not playing well. 'With Arsenal you get the sense they can still play badly and grind out a win or a draw. That might just play in their favour this season,' he explained, contrasting this with Liverpool, whom he suggested are more likely to lose when performing poorly.
Rival Warnings and Title Race Pressure
The notion that Arsenal will feel the pressure of a sustained challenge was echoed by pundit Jamie Carragher. While rating Arsenal as the 'best team he’s seen this season', the ex-Liverpool defender told Sky Sports that the spectre of Manchester City would cause anxiety. 'I think Arsenal will be nervous because it’s Man City,' Carragher said. 'They’ve done this before. Twice in the last three years Man City have caught Arsenal.'
The Premier League now enters an international break with the table poised for a compelling restart. The narrative will resume with a blockbuster north London derby against Tottenham for the league leaders. Manchester City, looking to maintain their momentum, face a tough test against Newcastle United, while Liverpool will aim to rebound at home to Nottingham Forest.
With a four-point cushion but history weighing heavily, Arsenal's quest for a first league title since 2004 is set for another dramatic chapter, fuelled by a debate about the very nature of what it takes to be champions.
