With 14 games still to play, Arsenal are determined not to repeat the slip-ups that have cost them in recent seasons.
The Gunners have finished second in each of the last three campaigns, narrowly missing out on the title as Manchester City and Liverpool surged past them late on. The most painful example came in 2022/23, when Arsenal surrendered an eight-point lead to Pep Guardiola’s City, who went on to complete a famous treble.
Speaking on talkSPORT on Wednesday morning, former Manchester United and Liverpool striker Michael Owen shared his view on how the title race is shaping up — and he feels Arsenal have a clear path this time.
“I don’t think there’s anyone good enough to challenge them this season,” Owen said. “Even though the points total might not be that high, the only teams I thought could really compete were Liverpool and Manchester City — and they’re both struggling.”
He added: “It feels like Arsenal will win it, but they’ve almost been handed the title. There hasn’t been much pressure put on them, so I think the league is nearly done.”
On Tuesday night, Arsenal strengthened that momentum by beating Chelsea 1-0 at the Emirates in the Carabao Cup, sealing a 4-2 aggregate win. The victory moved Mikel Arteta’s side to within one game of lifting their first trophy since the 2020 FA Cup.
Owen, already convinced Arsenal will be crowned league champions, also believes the Carabao Cup is within reach. “They can definitely win the League Cup,” he said, “though the other competitions will be much tougher.”
Arsenal remain in the hunt for a historic quadruple. They finished top of their Champions League group and knocked Portsmouth out of the FA Cup in the third round.
Their European form has been particularly impressive, staying unbeaten while picking up eye-catching results against Atletico Madrid, Inter Milan and Bayern Munich.
According to Owen, while the Premier League looks under control, Arsenal are likely to face stiffer challenges outside domestic competition.
