Arsenal receives a warning about their championship ambitions

Alan Shearer thinks Arsenal is starting to display fatigue, as Man City prepares to narrow the distance and make the big April clash a decisive turning point for the championship.

The Premier League title race is heating up with each round, and the former star Alan Shearer did not hesitate to deliver strong opinions aimed at Arsenal. According to the English legend, the season's turning point might come in April when Arsenal travels to Etihad to face Manchester City. This is seen as an early "final" that could decide the champion.

In the midweek match, Arsenal made things difficult for themselves by dropping points against Wolverhampton Wanderers. Leading 2-0 at Molineux, the "Gunners" allowed the bottom-ranked team to equalize in the final minutes. This result cost them the chance to extend their lead to seven points and inadvertently opened the door for Man City to close the gap.

This weekend, while Arsenal is preparing for the North London derby against Tottenham Hotspur, Pep Guardiola's squad will only host Newcastle at home. If Man City secures all three points, they could reduce the gap to two points, significantly increasing pressure on the league leaders.

Speaking on Betfair, Shearer noted that signs of instability are gradually emerging at Arsenal. “Cracks are starting to show. Leading 2-0 and then allowing the bottom team to equalize is clearly not the image of a champion,” he commented. The former England striker said Arsenal’s long title drought makes it difficult for them to maintain composure in the final stretch.

Shearer also candidly stated that he has never believed Arsenal would run away with the title alone. “It’s rare for a team to win the championship easily, especially those who haven’t lifted the trophy for a long time,” he added.

The pressure from criticism involving the term “bottle,” implying faltering at crucial moments, may be affecting Arsenal players’ mindset. Meanwhile, with Man City maintaining their usual resilience, any slip-ups now could be very costly.

The road ahead is still long, but as Shearer warns, the clash at Etihad in April could be the defining moment where Arsenal’s title hopes face their toughest test.