Arsenal get new Premier League title and Champions League verdict from Gary Lineker

Arsenal remain firmly top of the Premier League with just seven games left, as Manchester City continue to push them in the title race

Gary Lineker has delivered his Arsenal title verdict, suggesting that winning the Champions League would simply be a bonus in a season where Mikel Arteta's side look firmly on course to lift the Premier League title. Arsenal sit nine points clear of Manchester City, who have a game in hand against Crystal Palace and will still host the Gunners at the Etihad Stadium.

Arsenal are in Champions League action this week against Sporting Clube de Portugal in Lisbon, following their shock FA Cup 2-1 defeat to Championship side Southampton on Saturday. Still competing in Europe, the Gunners have shown real strength this season, going unbeaten in the group stage and now eyeing a place in the semi‑finals over a two‑legged tie.

Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, Lineker reiterated the importance of getting things back on track after the setback on the south coast. "The next game or two for Arsenal are hugely important. They need to steady the ship," the Leicester City icon said.

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"There's no doubt, they've got a huge lead in the Premier League - it's a nine-point lead. Obviously, City have got a game in hand and they play Arsenal at the Etihad, so it could go down to three and it has to go down to three really for them to have any chance, City I think. But it's squeaky bum time."

Lineker added: "I think they'll be fine. I think they'll win the league which will be the main thing for them. Champions League would be an enormous bonus because obviously it's a competition that they've never won. So I think, I'm pretty confident they'll win the league but they do need to steady that ship."

Meanwhile, Alan Shearer agreed with Lineker, replying: "It is. They're under huge pressure, there's no doubt.

"Even Mikel's interview after the game tells you that but as I said earlier, you've always got the right to respond.

"And three days after the game, they've got that. Football is crazy, you go into that game and if you win it, your confidence is back up again and everything's nice and rosy.

"So that's what they have to do because the noise will just get louder if they don't."

Their Champions League match against Sporting will take place on Tuesday, April 7 at 8pm at Estadio Jose Alvalade, before the return fixture at the Emirates the following week (Wednesday, April 15, 8pm).

Before that, however, they face a crucial home clash with Bournemouth on Saturday (12:30pm) as the title race intensifies.