Alan Shearer names Arsenal performance that could cost league title – but it's NOT Man City loss

Gary Lineker has refused to say Arsenal have thrown away the Premier League title after their 2-1 defeat to Manchester City, believing Mikel Arteta's side could still have a memorable season

Premier League great Alan Shearer believes Arsenal's defeat to Bournemouth could be the result that costs them the title.

The Newcastle United icon feels their home disappointment against the Cherries is a bigger dagger to their hopes than Sunday's loss at Manchester City.

City closed the gap at the top to three points after Erling Haaland netted the decisive goal shortly after the hour mark in the high-stakes summit clash.

Pep Guardiola's side can leapfrog Arsenal to the top of the table on Wednesday, for the first time since mid-August, should they beat relegation-threatened Burnley by two goals.

Arsenal's recent dip in form has handed Pep Guardiola's serial winners the opportunity to pounce. The Gunners, at least on paper, face a more favourable run of fixtures, though they still have their two-legged Champions League semi-final against Atletico Madrid to navigate as they seek to rescue their extraordinary season with some silverware.

Shearer does not believe that the defeat at the Etihad Stadium will prove to be the decisive blow to Arsenal's title ambitions. The former Newcastle United striker contends that their 2-1 loss to Bournemouth the previous weekend could be the result that ultimately proves most costly.

He said: "Where was this last month from Bournemouth? Where was this energy? This performance? Where was this forward-thinking Arsenal?

"I think that is the result that might cost them the league, last weekend, rather than this weekend, they were just so flat.

"I thought today, they were really good, it was a good game, they created plenty and went right up against City, it was a brilliant game. Arsenal had their moments, Havertz right at the end, you have to fancy Man City now."

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Should both Arsenal and City win all of their remaining fixtures, there remains the prospect that the two sides could finish level on 85 points apiece.

City are set to fulfil their game in hand against Burnley on Wednesday, though their fixture with Crystal Palace remains unscheduled owing to their FA Cup commitments, with Southampton awaiting them on Saturday.

Shearer remains unconvinced that both sides will maintain flawless records through their remaining matches, anticipating some surprises along the way.

He added: "The last six or seven weeks with their performances, who they've beaten and how they've beaten them, you have to fancy them but I still don't think both teams will go win every game, I think there will be a twist or two."

Gary Lineker, however, has declined to join the chorus of criticism directed at Arteta's men, despite the title now being out of their hands. Speaking on the Rest is Football podcast, he said: "It's not impossible that it'll be down to goal difference and it is very, very close.

"It's great for the neutrals because you want it to go as close as you can right at the death so in that sense it was good. I feel a little bit for Arsenal, they're going through it a little bit but they're still in the semi-final of the Champions League, they've got plenty to play for, they can still win the Premier League title.

"A lot of people will go, 'Arsenal have choked', it could still be a memorable season for them, I'm not going to jump on that bandwagon that they're going to throw it away, it's too soon to say that. They did show something, even though it didn't go their way, it could have been different."

Arsenal resume their Premier League campaign next Saturday when they welcome Newcastle. The Magpies have experienced their own difficulties recently, with Eddie Howe facing pressure to address their decline, as questions mount regarding his future at St James' Park.

Four of the Gunners' final five fixtures take place at the Emirates Stadium, with as many opponents from the bottom half of the table.