Michael Owen Stands Firm on Arsenal Title Prediction Despite Setback
Former Liverpool and England striker Michael Owen has reiterated his belief that Arsenal will win the Premier League title this season, despite seeing their lead at the summit cut following a dramatic weekend of action.
Gunners' Lead Slashed After Emirates Defeat
Arsenal's advantage at the top of the table has been reduced from seven to just four points after suffering a damaging 3-2 home defeat to Manchester United on Sunday afternoon. This represents Mikel Arteta's side's first loss at the Emirates Stadium this campaign and extends their winless run in the league to three matches, following previous draws against Liverpool and Nottingham Forest.
The match itself was a rollercoaster affair that saw Arsenal take an early lead through a Lisandro Martinez own goal, only for Martin Zubimendi's error to allow Bryan Mbeumo to equalise before halftime. Patrick Dorgu then fired United ahead with a spectacular long-range effort, and though Mikel Merino scrambled home an equaliser from a corner, Matheus Cunha's curling finish ultimately secured all three points for Michael Carrick's visitors.
Owen: "Still Arsenal's to Give Away"
Speaking on Premier League Productions, Owen acknowledged the title race has opened up but maintained his conviction about Arsenal's credentials. "It's given everyone a little bit of a chance," he said. "I don't think Manchester City have been brilliant this season but wow, they've been playing pretty average and they're only four points away from it. It's a massive result for Aston Villa today and that claws them into contention as well."
"I still think it's Arsenal's to give away," Owen continued. "I think they're the best team in the league, they're the most consistent and the most solid and probably the best squad. But there are questions. They've not done it before or for a long, long time so we'll see how it pans out. But two points from nine is a wobble."
Arteta Responds to Criticism After United Loss
The defeat prompted criticism from Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira, who questioned his former side's resilience and suggested too many key players failed to perform. Manager Mikel Arteta responded to these comments in his post-match press conference.
"At the end, we have to show the mental strength that we have on the pitch when it comes to a match day," Arteta stated. "We were absolutely brilliant in Milan, and today we weren't that good. I don't know if it was mental, because of how much they played, but because we were poor, especially technically in certain aspects of the game, against a team that when you make those mistakes, they can punish you big time. That was the difference."
Busy Schedule Ahead for Title Challengers
Despite their league struggles, Arsenal remain in strong contention across all competitions. They have won all seven of their Champions League matches this season and hold a 3-2 aggregate lead heading into the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final against Chelsea. They also remain active in the FA Cup as they pursue a first league title since the 2003-04 campaign.
The Gunners face a crucial period with a Champions League group stage finale against Kairat on Wednesday, followed by a Premier League trip to Leeds United this weekend. They will then aim to secure their place in the Carabao Cup final by overcoming Chelsea in their semi-final second leg.
Owen's backing provides a significant vote of confidence for Arteta's squad during this testing period, suggesting that while their lead has diminished, their status as title favourites remains intact in the eyes of many observers.
