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Paul Merson has explained why he thinks the Premier League title race between Arsenal and Manchester City could be \u201call over\u201d this weekend.<\/p>\n
Arsenal\u2019<\/strong>s hopes of winning the Premier League title have faded in recent days, with Mikel Arteta\u2019s side suffering back-to-back losses against AFC Bournemouth and Manchester City.<\/p>\n And after Man City<\/strong>\u2018s win against Burnley, Pep Guardiola\u2019s team are top of the Premier League table on goal difference with five games of the 2025\/26 campaign remaining.<\/p>\n However, there is hope for Arsenal heading into the final few weeks of this season. They arguably have an easier set of fixtures, and they can put pressure on Man City by beating Newcastle United this weekend.<\/p>\n And Merson has explained why he thinks Arsenal have an advantage<\/strong> over Man City heading into the remainder of this season.<\/p>\n \u201cArsenal play twice before City do and could go six points clear again \u2013 and they\u2019ve got to make that count. They have to win those two games against Newcastle and Fulham to put the pressure back on City. It\u2019s a must,\u201d Merson told Sky Sports.<\/p>\n READ: Premier League player power rankings: Bruno Fernandes snatches top spot from Declan Rice \u201cCity\u2019s last five games? They don\u2019t look too hard for them. They\u2019ve got Everton and Brentford \u2013 two teams fighting for Europe \u2013 but two of their other games are absolutely gimmes.\u201d<\/p>\n He added: \u201cArsenal are back in the title race. City didn\u2019t rip Burnley up by four or five, they\u2019re not going to do that against Everton in their next game.<\/p>\n \u201cEverton are very good defensively, so are Brentford. Bournemouth are also very good at the back.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Premier League title race could come down to goal difference.\u201d<\/p>\n Merson has also backed Arsenal to beat Newcastle 2-0 on Saturday, but he believes the title race will be \u201call over\u201d if they fail to earn all three points.<\/p>\n \u201cArsenal don\u2019t win this game, it\u2019s all over in the title race,\u201d Merson said in his Sportskeeda column.<\/p>\n READ MORE: An extraordinary XI of Prem stars on lower salaries than Leicester\u2019s highest-paid player \u201cThey are literally in last chance saloon now. City are above Arsenal only because they\u2019ve scored more goals. So there is still a possibility of Arsenal winning every game and still losing the title due to City scoring more than them!<\/p>\n \u201cImagine losing a league title simply because you scored fewer goals? That would hurt.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I won the league with Arsenal in 1989 because we scored more goals than Liverpool, and I can tell you it\u2019s only a good feeling if you win!<\/p>\n \u201cThis has always been an entertaining fixture in the last few seasons. Even though I\u2019m backing Arsenal to win, I don\u2019t think the result is a foregone conclusion here.\u201d<\/p>\n READ NEXT: Mikel Arteta is either a \u2018wilful and vindictive child\u2019 or a genius <\/div>\n
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