Alan Shearer praises ‘unplayable’ Arsenal star and names their ‘most likely’ title challengers

Ex-England striker Alan Shearer says Arsenal should remain wary of Manchester City, who he believes are the club’s ‘most likely’ challengers for the Premier League title this season.

The league leaders tightened their grip on top spot with a statement 4-1 victory over bitter rivals Tottenham on Sunday, a result that ensured they finished the weekend with a six-point lead over second-placed Chelsea.

Leandro Trossard opened the scored with a deflected strike in the 36th minute, before Eberechi Eze well and truly announced his arrival with a stunning hat-trick on the big stage – becoming the first player to manage the feat in a north London derby since Alan Sunderland in 1978.

While Richarlison’s audacious 35-yard lob over David Raya had given Spurs a glimmer of hope in the 55th minute, Arsenal looked much the better side throughout and were thoroughly deserving of their three points.

After facing Bayern Munich in the Champions League in midweek, Mikel Arteta’s side will look to further underline their title credentials when they return to Premier League action with another London derby away to Chelsea.

Discussing Eze’s ‘unplayable’ performance on The Rest Is Football podcast, Shearer said: ‘You could just tell he was having the day of his life.

‘He was absolutely loving it, getting on the ball, flicks and tricks and finishes.

‘He was unplayable really and Spurs got it all wrong, the amount of space they allowed him and others to go and do their stuff.

‘But he was just fantastic. He just looked as if he belonged there, he was lapping up the applause and everything else he was getting.

‘Good on him. He was unplayable basically and he was absolutely fantastic.’

Manchester City lost further ground on Arsenal after falling to a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Newcastle on Saturday.

Ruben Dias’ deflected effort had appeared to have swung the momentum back in City’s favour following Harvey Barnes’ well-taken opener just past the hour-mark.

But Barnes struck again just two minutes after Dias’ equaliser and Eddie Howe’s men held firm to come away from St James’ Park with maximum points.

But despite the setback, Shearer feels Pep Guardiola’s side remain the biggest threat to Arsenal’s hopes of ending their long wait for the Premier League title.

Asked to name Arsenal’s ‘most likely’ challengers, Shearer replied: ‘I would still say City.

‘We’ve seen City after Christmas before do it, they’re used to it and they can do it, we know that.

‘I know it’s different and, defensively, they’re certainly not as good as they have been.

‘But because they’ve been there and they know what to do, they know what to expect and everything else, I would still say Manchester City.’

Asked if Liverpool should be ruled out of the title race, Shearer responded: ‘I think so. They’ve lost six in the league.’

Micah Richards agreed that City still had the tools to pip Arsenal to the Premier League title, despite their up-and-down start to the campaign.

And while Richards believes Chelsea can ‘beat anyone on their day’, he doesn’t feel Enzo Maresca’s side will ‘have enough’ to push Arsenal and City all the way come the business end of the season.

‘I would say Manchester City as well but I think Chelsea could beat anyone on their day,’ he chimed in.

‘I think they [Chelsea] can put in really good performances, as we saw in the Club World Cup.

‘I don’t think they have enough at the moment to go all the way, but they’re improving.’

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