Paul Merson, the former England international, has declared that the Premier League championship is now Arsenal’s to lose following their commanding 3-0 victory over Fulham on Saturday. The Gunners delivered a scintillating first-half performance, with Viktor Gyokeres scoring twice and Bukayo Saka adding a third, leaving Mikel Arteta’s side in a dominant position at the top of the table.
Arsenal now hold a six-point lead over Manchester City, although the reigning champions have two games in hand. Speaking on Sky Sports, Merson expressed confidence in Arsenal’s ability to maintain their advantage, pointing to their upcoming fixtures against West Ham and Burnley as opportunities to extend their lead. ‘Looking at Arsenal today, you would expect them to comfortably see off West Ham at the London Stadium next week,’ Merson said. ‘They might be out of sight when they welcome an already relegated Burnley side to the Emirates a week later too.’
The former midfielder did not mince words about the title race, stating, ‘I’m sorry to say but it’s Arsenal’s title to lose at the moment.’ The Gunners’ emphatic win over Fulham has sent a strong message to their rivals, with Merson suggesting that the pressure is now squarely on Manchester City to respond.