Shearer Backs Man City to Seal Title After Etihad Victory Over Arsenal

Alan Shearer has backed Manchester City to clinch the Premier League crown following their 2-1 triumph over Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, with the former striker suggesting the Citizens have seized the initiative in the title race.

Despite a spirited showing from the Gunners—a marked improvement on their recent form—Mikel Arteta's side fell short against their rivals. Rayan Cherki had given Arsenal a brilliant lead before Kai Havertz capitalised on a Gianluigi Donnarumma error to level matters on 18 minutes. Erling Haaland's composed finish on 65 minutes proved decisive, securing all three points for the hosts.

The result leaves City poised to move top of the table should they overcome Burnley at Turf Moor on Wednesday.

Speaking to NBC Sports, Shearer questioned where Arsenal's intensity had gone over the previous five or six weeks, though he acknowledged an improvement in their approach. "They were much better in terms of energy, playing more on the front foot, creating chances," he explained. "But they just fell short. They had their chances and they didn't take them."

He highlighted a glaring miss in the final moments, noting that Havertz should have converted after receiving an excellent delivery. "That's been the difference today unfortunately for Arsenal," Shearer said.

When pressed on whether City would now claim the crown, Shearer was emphatic. "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," he told the broadcaster. He referenced the atmosphere inside the stadium and the confidence radiating from Haaland and the City supporters as evidence of a side ready to deliver.

Shearer reckoned Arsenal's window of opportunity had closed the previous week. Despite winning away at Sporting and facing Bournemouth with momentum seemingly on their side, the Gunners produced a lacklustre display. "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," he reflected. "You can't just do that, you need momentum. And there's one team with momentum at the minute and that's Manchester City."

Arteta cut a frustrated figure in his post-match assessment, acknowledging both the disappointment and the fine margins involved. "It's a really disappointing result, and the manner that it happened," he said. "We had a really strong performance, got so much into the game, we came back from a goal down. Emotionally, we handled the game so well, and had the game where we wanted it."

The Arsenal manager conceded that his side had created the better opportunities but failed to convert them. "We had the best chances of the game, didn't put them away, and that was the difference," Arteta explained. He acknowledged the frustration of the missed openings while also drawing some solace from the quality of their approach play against such miserly opposition. "When they had moments, they put them in the back of the net and that was the difference," he concluded.