At a Glance:
- Arsenal host Bournemouth in the Premier League on Saturday.
- Manchester City play Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.
- Paul Merson has made a big claim about the title race ahead of these fixtures.
Arsenal’s pursuit of the Premier League title resumes on Saturday afternoon when they take on Bournemouth at the Emirates Stadium, and Paul Merson has made a huge claim ahead of this pivotal weekend for the Gunners.
Mikel Arteta’s team narrowly beat Sporting CP on Tuesday night in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie. Kai Havertz scored a 91st-minute winner in Lisbon, slotting beyond Rui Silva after an excellent clipped pass from Gabriel Martinelli.
The North Londoners are in a strong position to progress into the last four of Europe’s elite competition, although they must now turn their attentions back to domestic action. The Cherries, who are unbeaten in eleven league matches, make the trip to N5, and Merson has tipped Arsenal to overcome Andoni Iraola’s men.
Paul Merson makes bold Premier League title claim about Arsenal
Arsenal could be somewhat depleted when Bournemouth travel to Islington on Saturday. The Gunners will almost certainly still be without Bukayo Saka, while the likes of Piero Hincapie, Jurrien Timber, Eberechi Eze and Mikel Merino continue to fight their way back to full fitness.
Martin Odegaard may also be out after sustaining a knock in Lisbon, while Riccardo Calafiori wasn’t spotted in training on Thursday. Despite this extensive list of potential absentees, Merson believes Arsenal will comfortably beat Bournemouth.
This wasn’t the pundit’s only bold claim ahead of this clash. The former Gunners forward went a step further, predicting this to be the weekend when the title race is essentially concluded.
Manchester City travel to Stamford Bridge on Sunday, and Merson doesn’t think Pep Guardiola’s men will claim all three points in West London.
“Arsenal are on a bit of a wobble, aren’t they?” Merson wrote for Sportskeeda.
“I told you last week that the FA Cup game was a banana skin and they were knocked out by Southampton!
“Bournemouth are on a decent unbeaten run. But the problem is, they just can’t win games. I feel like people are getting a bit carried away by hyping them up for being unbeaten. If you don’t win enough games, it makes no sense in my opinion.
“I personally think the Premier League title race will be over this weekend. I’m backing Arsenal to win, which means they go 12 points clear of Manchester City. I don’t believe City can beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday!
“I’m predicting a comfortable win for Mikel Arteta’s team. Arsenal will be relieved they at least have one trophy in the bag after this weekend.”
Merson’s Prediction: Arsenal 3-0 Bournemouth
How many points would Arsenal need after this weekend in Paul Merson’s scenario?
Merson may be right; the psychological pressure of going 12 points behind Arsenal could be too much for City when they head to Stamford Bridge. The Citizens would feel that the race is all but over if they don’t claim all three points against Liam Rosenior’s side, and this could get to them.
In Merson’s predicted scenario, the Gunners would be on the cusp of winning the title after this weekend. City’s maximum point total would be 83, meaning Arsenal would need just eleven more points to guarantee the title.
| Rank | Team | Games Played | Points |
| 1 | Arsenal | 32 | 73 |
| 2 | Manchester City | 31 | 62 |
That means four wins from their remaining six games would be enough for Arteta’s side. However, with the two teams set to play each other at the Etihad, things could be even more straightforward for the Gunners.
A draw at the Etihad would leave Arsenal needing just eight points from their last five games to guarantee the title. A historic victory in Manchester would see the Gunners needing just five points from their last five matches.
