Arsenal no longer title favourites as Man City move to front of queue for two reasons

Tom Canton and John Cross discuss whether Arsenal are still the Premier League title favourites on this week's Seeing Red Arsenal podcast

The big talk of the week for Arsenal come in the fallout of the Gunner’s narrow victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday evening. Two own goals were the difference for Mikel Arteta’s side who needed a near solo performance from Bukayo Saka to get them the vital three points.

It has led to discussions as to where the Gunners stand in the title race after Manchester City swept aside Crystal Palace. Our Seeing Red podcast hosts Tom Canton and John Cross were at the two games respectively last weekend, and in their latest episode of the show discussed why Crossie’s favourite for the title has shifted following this week of action.

“I do think my favourites at this point would have to be City on current form,” Cross said. “I mean, listen, it always makes me laugh about the supercomputer.

“If the supercomputer was so super, then it wouldn't be allowed to change its prediction from one week to the next based on results because it would know, you know?

“And so I'd be happy to be kind of proved wrong, but I feel that there's an ominous feeling about City and the way that they are playing. They're not great defensively.

One of the reasons why Palace's xG was greater because I think it was over three, wasn't it? Which bearing in mind they didn't take any of those chances, it's really quite surprising based on their kind of performances and results this season and it was because they were able to get so behind City's defence so many times.

“That is an issue for City, clearly. It was a mixture of Palace's poor finishing, some decent saves from Donnarumma and then Diaz also being on his game. But I do think that would be a worry for City and it's clearly their Achilles heel.”

Despite all of these weakenesses however that are present, there is one particular reason why Cross believes that City have the edge over Arsenal. The Gunners simply do not have a machine of a player at their disposal like Pep Guardiola does.

“The difference and why I like City at the moment as a team, is that Haaland is the best player of all three title challengers in my view. And he is so deadly and is so lethal, is so ruthless in his finishing, that that sets him apart. I also think that Phil Foden is back to the form season before last.

“There's always this talk about when English players do well, you lot in the media favour the English and stuff like that… He was amazing the season before last. He was poor last season.

“I'm sure he'd be the first to admit that for various reasons, but it feels like he's back this season. And then Rayan Cherki, I think is a good signing. He's a good player.

“And, I think it's not a classic City team, but I think that five wins, straight wins in all comps, shows City are hitting the traps. I think they look pretty good and will take some stopping and I think that will be a concern for Arsenal.

“Why? Because I think mentally they've usurped them in the closing stages of a couple of title races in recent seasons and that will be a worry.

“It's got to be. It's got to be. And it's a test of Arsenal now and their strength and performance, but also mental strength, I think as well.”

The added element of the mental side of the game is what gave Canton reason to agree because it has been City to pip the Gunners. Last season, injuries ravaged both Arsenal and City and Liverpool sauntered to the title.

“No, I think you're spot on,” Canton replied. “I think this season is all mental, like in terms of just that element of the game for Arsenal, because I think they have the quality to win the title. I think they've got the team to win the title, the depth to win the title, the manager to win the title.

“They've got all these things, but it's just, do they have that mettle? Do they have that composure? It showed there's obviously still some cracks and concerns in the game against Wolves, that composure, that response.

“And, I think this Everton game, even though it's not the blockbuster fixture of the season, for me, that is the most important game of the season so far, that Everton game, because what Arsenal fans and what Arsenal players need to see is a response.

“We need to see a reaction, a performance that isn't just, it's not enough for Arsenal to beat Everton, for me, on Saturday. Arsenal have to go and beat them and beat them well and show them that they are responding, that that game against Wolves was an anomaly.

“And they're looking, of course, with the benefit of a first midweek off of action since the week commencing, August 25th, which is a mad story in itself. They need to take that time, utilise that break. Arteta can finally start to kind of work with his team again.

“I love the way [Arteta] said in the press conference afterwards, where he said that when you don't have enough training sessions, things start to deteriorate: connections, understanding, methodology starts to break down, and you have to re-establish that when you get the opportunity to train more often.

“And Arsenal, of course, returned to training on Tuesday. No Martin Zubimendi was spotted, although we believe it's kind of more of a load management situation than anything more sinister. But we'll hear from Arteta more specifically on that on Friday.”

You can watch the full episode of the Seeing Red Arsenal podcast on our YouTube channel and listen to the audio version on all your major podcasting platforms.