David James has named the ‘favourite’ to win the Premier League after Manchester City closed the gap on title favourites Arsenal.
Man City clinched a routine 3-0 win over in-form Sunderland shortly after Arsenal’s deflating 2-1 defeat at Aston Villa.
Sunderland have exceeded expectations during their return to the Premier League but were no match for Pep Guardiola’s side, who were 2-0 up at half-time thanks to goals from Ruben Dias and Josko Gvadiol.
Phil Foden continued his superb form with his fifth goal in three games, Man City climbing back up to second in the Premier League, now just two points behind Arsenal.
Arsenal have been by far the best team in England this season but dropped points for the third time in five games at Villa Park.
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It looked as though Leandro Trossard’s second-half goal would earn the Gunners a point after Matty Cash broke the deadlock for Unai Emery’s side.
But Emi Buendia rifled home a dramatic winner with virtually the last kick of the game as Villa stormed into title contention.
Ex-Premier League goalkeeper David James said Arsenal looked ‘a bit vulnerable’ against Villa and insisted it was possible for teams to trouble Mikel Arteta’s formidable defence.
But while James has given the other title contenders hope of ‘reducing the gap’ to Arsenal, he still views the Gunners as ‘favourites’ to win the Premier League.
‘The interesting thing with Man City is they’re capable of losing games themselves at the minute,’ James told Stadium Astro.
‘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.
‘What’s encouraging for the other clubs is when Arsenal do concede, they do look a little bit vulnerable.
‘Villa showed strength, ability and determination and if the other teams can do that they could reduce the gap on Arsenal.
‘But that’s not to say Arsenal aren’t still the favourites.’
Ex-Aston Villa boss Martin O’Neill also believes Arsenal remain the team to beat in the Premier League title race.
The Gunners have not won the league since 2004, finishing as runners-up for the past three seasons.
‘Mikel Arteta sounded pretty focused after the game and so he should because they’ve been on a fantastic run,’ O’Neill said on Premier League Productions.
‘Okay, they’ve conceded in the last minute and that will hurt, definitely. They need to start again next weekend because they’ve got a real strength about them and a will not to lose and that should stand them in great stead over the course of the season.
‘The truth is I think we all think that if any team finishes above Arsenal this season they will win the league.’
One of the pressing issues for Arteta is the growing number of Arsenal players in the treatment room and Ray Parlour is ‘concerned’ by his former club’s injury issues.
‘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. Mikel has got to try and manage the squad and get a few players fit.
‘That will be a disappointing trip back to Birmingham today, conceding late on is always s disappointing but you need to bounce back, that’s what good teams do.
‘Mikel Arteta will be a bit concerned but Arsenal need to deal with it.’
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