Alan Shearer makes confident title prediction after Arsenal’s defeat to Man City

Alan Shearer has backed Manchester City to go on and win the Premier League after their statement 2-1 win over title rivals Arsenal.

Arsenal produced a spirited performance after a wretched run of just one win in their previous five contests in all competitions, but Erling Haaland’s second-half strike ultimately proved decisive at the Etihad.

Kai Havertz’s equaliser – gifted to Arsenal by Gianluigi Donnarumma – had given the visitors hope of a famous victory away from home, with the German’s effort cancelling out Rayan Cherki’s exquisite opener.

Mikel Arteta’s side were punished for their wastefulness in front of goal in the second half, though, ensuring hosts City – who have a game in hand over Arsenal – closed the gap at the summit to just three points of the leaders.

The result means Pep Guardiola’s men will claim top spot if they get the better of struggling Burnley at Turf Moor on Wednesday night.

‘I believe today, I believe on Wednesday, I believed a week ago because I see them every day and I know the level that we have,’ Arteta told reporters shortly after Arsenal’s setback.

‘But today, if they need to be more convinced, I think they are now more convinced. We are talking about it in the dressing room.

‘It’s a new league now. We have three points of advantage, they have the game in hand.

‘Everything is still to play for. We know how much we want it and we are not going to stop!’

Arsenal will be desperate to get their title charge back on track when they return to action at home to an out-of-form Newcastle in just under a week’s time.

Dissecting Sunday’s top-of-the-table clash on NBC Sports, ex-England and Newcastle striker Shearer said he saw a difference in Arsenal’s overall performance compared to their recent below-par displays.

But according to Shearer, the away team were made to pay for their wayward finishing as several chances came and went in the second period.

‘Where’s that [spirit] been for the last five or six weeks? That’s the big question,’ Shearer, the Premier League’s all-time top goalscorer, explained.

‘Yes, they were much better in terms of energy, playing more on the front foot, creating chances, and they were much better than they have been, but they just fell short.

‘They had their chances and they didn’t take them. There was a great chance in the last minute for Kai Havertz, with a wonderful ball in, and he has to score that goal.

‘That’s been the difference today unfortunately for Arsenal.’

Asked if he believes City will go on and win the title, Shearer replied: ‘Yeah, I always felt that if City won this game, with the form they’re in, with the experience that they have and the momentum they’ve got, I do believe they’ll now go on and win it.

‘It just feels like that. Looking at Erling Haaland, looking at their fans in the stadium and listening to it, you get that feeling that that’s exactly how they’re feeling as well.’

Shearer felt Arsenal missed a big opportunity to wrestle the momentum back in their favour when they stumbled at home to Bournemouth in their previous encounter.

He continued: ‘I thought their opportunity was last week against Bournemouth, particularly after winning in Sporting, I thought the momentum from that would have carried them on.

‘But it was such a weak, limp performance against Bournemouth and it’s very, very difficult, at whatever level of football you’re playing, to flick a switch and go again.

‘You can’t just do that, you need momentum. And there’s one team with momentum at the minute and that’s Manchester City.’

Wayne Rooney took an altogether different view to Shearer after the final whistle, though, insisting Arsenal remained in pole position despite their crushing loss in Manchester.

‘This title race is not over yet, I still feel like there are some more twists and turns to come,’ the former Manchester United and England forward said.

‘It is is obviously going to be tight but City have got one more game to try to win, so I still have Arsenal down as slight favourites.

‘I’ve been in this situation myself, where you need to win all your games for the title. You look at your games and you think well we should win this one, or that one, but it never pans out that way.

‘From now until the end of the season it is just going to be down to which team keeps their composure the best – that’s who will win it.’

While he stopped short of agreeing with Rooney, Guardiola was keen to sound a note of caution and remind his ow players that winning the league from this position will be far from a forgone conclusion.

He said: ‘I don’t know, I didn’t think Arsenal were in bad momentum. In the Carabao Cup we were better.

‘Today we were really good. They came here after the defeat with hunger and we won. They are are so competitive, we know that. But at the same time, we are too.

‘The table speaks for itself. They have been the best. Congratulations to the guys, but don’t lose the focus.

‘Wednesday is our game in hand and we can be there if we win. That’s what we have to do. Doing it will be so difficult because Everton or Brentford, or Aston Villa, Crystal Palace.

‘The games that we have. Bournemouth away. Last week they won in Emirates and Newcastle. It will be more difficult.’

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