Premier League legend Alan Shearer has weighed in on the intensifying title race, maintaining that Arsenal still holds a “slight advantage” despite a recent dip in form and a surging Manchester City. Speaking in an interview with Premier League Productions on Sunday, February 22, 2026, the former Newcastle striker acknowledged that while Pep Guardiola’s side knows exactly how to navigate these high-pressure moments, the Gunners’ destiny remains in their own hands.
Shearer’s comments follow Manchester City’s hard-fought 2-1 victory over Newcastle United on Saturday, where a brace from Nico O’Reilly closed the gap at the top to just two points. “Manchester City have been in this kind of position before… I still believe Arsenal might just have a slight advantage,” Shearer noted.
The timing of his analysis is critical, as Arsenal prepares for a high-stakes North London Derby against Tottenham Hotspur later today. Following a frustrating midweek 2-2 draw with Wolves, a game where Mikel Arteta’s men squandered a 2-0 lead, the pressure has mounted on the league leaders to prove they can withstand the “bottling” narrative that has plagued them in previous seasons.
Shearer had previously warned that “cracks are starting to show” after the Wolves result, but he now insists that if Arsenal can secure a victory at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, they will restore their five-point cushion and reclaim psychological momentum.
As it stands, Arsenal leads the table with 58 points from 27 matches, while Manchester City follows closely with 56 points. The race is expected to reach a fever pitch on April 18, when the two giants face off at the Etihad Stadium in what many pundits describe as a title decider.
For now, Shearer believes the tactical brilliance of Bukayo Saka and the clinical finishing of Viktor Gyökeres give the Gunners the necessary tools to cross the finish line, provided they can overcome the immediate challenge of an Igor Tudor-led Spurs side currently fighting for survival at the other end of the table.
