Former Premier League-winning captain Tim Sherwood has tipped Arsenal to end their long wait for the title, predicting they will hold off the fierce challenges of Manchester City and Aston Villa this season.
Sherwood's Verdict on the Title Race
Speaking on Sky Sports on Monday morning, the ex-Tottenham and Aston Villa manager was clear in his assessment. When asked whether he would prefer to be in Arsenal's position – two points clear at the Premier League summit on Christmas Day – or be the chaser like Manchester City, Sherwood sided with the Gunners.
"I’d rather be Arsenal and take the two points," Sherwood stated. "This league is going to be won by one or two points, or on goal difference, it’s going to be that tight. So I’d rather be where Arsenal are at the moment."
He acknowledged the intense pressure from defending champions Manchester City, who have won their last five matches in all competitions with an aggregate score of 13-1. Sherwood noted that Mikel Arteta will be acutely aware of the "sky blue shirt coming at him" in the rear-view mirror, driven by the "serial winner" Pep Guardiola.
Navigating the Pressure Cooker
Despite their lead, Sherwood admitted that recent performances have shown signs of nerves within the Arsenal camp. He referenced the narrow, late victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers and the earlier defeat to Aston Villa as evidence of a somewhat turbulent few weeks.
"Arsenal will get edgy, they have worried me a little bit," Sherwood confessed. "The Wolves game worried me, they dropped off and looked a little bit anxious towards the latter stages of the game but got the job done."
The challenge, as Sherwood sees it, is psychological. Arsenal have been top at Christmas before without finishing the job, and he expects the familiar narrative about them "bottling it" to resurface. However, he believes this is the year they finally break that cycle.
A Catalyst for Sustained Success
Sherwood, who won the title with Blackburn Rovers in 1995, went beyond a prediction for this season alone. He suggested that securing this Premier League crown could unlock a period of sustained dominance for Arteta's side.
"You have to break that duck sooner or later," he said. "When Arsenal do break it - and I think they will do it this year - they will be contenders and winners for many years to come. They will be in that dogfight. For not only the Premier League, for the Champions League as well."
He concluded that the experience of finally getting over the line would provide the squad with the ultimate confidence boost, transforming them into perennial challengers for the biggest honours in football.
