Lineker Demands Arsenal Show Backbone; Backs Gunners Despite Title Slip

Gary Lineker has urged Arsenal to find their mettle in the wake of Wednesday's collapse against Wolves, when the Gunners surrendered a commanding two-goal lead in a result that threatens to derail their title ambitions.

Following last week's stalemate with Brentford, Arsenal now find themselves with Manchester City lurking five points adrift—and crucially, with a game in hand. Pep Guardiola's outfit face Newcastle at the Etihad on Sunday before the Gunners travel to take on Tottenham the same day.

On The Rest is Football podcast, Lineker pulled no punches about what Arsenal need to do. "Do you think Arsenal just need to grow a pair?" he asked. "Get yourself together and be a bit more aggressive. Be a bit more on the front foot, especially when they get ahead."

The former England striker questioned whether Arsenal's troubles stem from a temporary wobble or something deeper in their mindset, but he remains convinced of their ultimate destination. "I suspect they'll still go on to win the title myself," Lineker said, "but this might be a little shot in the arm that they need to sort out."

Where Lineker harbours genuine doubt is over Manchester City's capacity to maintain the relentless consistency that defined their four consecutive title wins. "Can City be as consistently brilliant as they were when they won the title four seasons in a row, in that period that pretty much won every game after Christmas?" he pondered. "I'm not quite sure Man City are there or can be consistent enough to track Arsenal down."

Alan Shearer echoed Lineker's backing for Arsenal, yet delivered a sterner message about what failure would mean. Shearer believes the North London derby represents exactly the fixture Arsenal need to restore momentum, describing a victory at Spurs as "what a response it would be."

But the former Newcastle captain was unambiguous about the stakes. "If he doesn't win the league he might not be at Arsenal," Shearer said of Mikel Arteta, pointing to Arsenal's spending power and previous opportunities. "After the chances they have had to win it and finishing second, with what they have spent on the players they have got and the positions they are in, they have to win it."

Shearer suggested that winning the Champions League might prove psychologically easier for Arsenal than finally capturing the Premier League, given the weight of recent disappointment in the domestic competition.