Alan Shearer has looked back on Arsenal’s defeat to Liverpool as Mikel Arteta’s side look to extend their lead at the top of the table this weekend
Alan Shearer believes losing to Liverpool is Arsenal’s biggest regret this season as Mikel Arteta’s side push for their first Premier League title in over two decades.
The Gunners entered this week preparing to face two of their closest rivals across different competitions. On Wednesday night, Arteta’s side comfortably beat Champions League leaders Bayern Munich 3-1.
With all teams now having played five games, Arsenal remain the only side to have won all their opening fixtures in the Champions League. Across these matches, they have conceded just one goal while scoring 14 of their own.
Looking ahead to Sunday, Arsenal are set for their second big clash of the week as they look to seal a statement win over second-place Chelsea. But with Arteta focusing on what’s in front of him, Shearer has looked back on the season and where Arsenal’s regrets will lie.
He told Betfair: “It’s ironic, isn’t it, that Arsenal’s only defeat was against Liverpool. That looks like a bad result now, doesn’t it? Liverpool have been absolutely shocking since then.
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“But I guess the only team that has been consistent has been Arsenal, whereas everyone else has been really up and down.
“They’ve got the strongest squad, there’s no doubt, and they’ve had injuries, but you wouldn’t have thought that because of the quality of players that come in.
“I mean, [Noni] Madueke’s been out, he comes back at the weekend, and then scores mid-week. [Takehiro] Tomiyasu goes off, [Riccardo] Calafiori comes in, he goes off and [Gabriel] Martinelli comes on, he scores. So that’s the sign that they’ve got a really strong squad.
“They will believe that they can win it, and they’ll also say that there’s still such a long way to go — and that’s what they have to say.
“But Arsenal have been the standout team by an absolute mile at the minute. In every competition, basically, in the Champions League and in the league.”
There have only been six other occasions in Premier League history where a team has led by six points or more after 12 games, and all of them have gone on to win the title. If results go Arsenal’s way this weekend, they could extend their lead at the top to nine points.
The Gunners actually hold the record for the greatest points deficit overcome. They were 13 points behind Manchester United in the 1997/98 season but fought back to win the title.
What could help Arsenal this season is the fact that there is no clear title chaser. Manchester City looked to be the team to fear for Arteta, but after suffering a 2-1 loss to Newcastle last weekend, Chelsea now sit second.
This weekend could end with either the Blues, City, Aston Villa or even Crystal Palace in the runners-up spot. Last season’s champions Liverpool currently sit 12th, out of Arsenal’s sight.
However, a slip-up for Arsenal this weekend at Stamford Bridge could see their comfortable six-point lead slashed to just three. They haven’t lost in any competition since their 1-0 defeat to Liverpool in late August, and Arteta will be looking to extend that record past this weekend.
