Arsenal are currently nine points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool after 13 games, but Gary Neville believes the Gunners are still firmly in the title race.
They strolled to a 5-2 victory against West Ham United on Saturday before the Reds secured a 2-0 victory over Manchester City to maintain their nine-point lead yesterday.
Arsenal have to prove themselves with the games coming in thick and fast if they want to emerge title winners this term, and Neville believes they have what it takes to stop Liverpool.
“Arsenal are still it in, definitely,” he said on Sky Sports.
“Arne Slot will be saying Arsenal are still in it, and they’ll be saying that City are, but what bugged me about Arsenal’s game last night and it’ll bug Mikel Arteta, he was furious before half-time.
“He was so angry when they conceded those two goals because they’d been absolutely wonderful that first half an hour. They were brilliant.
“It was a perfect performance, and then just sloppiness and giving teams encouragement. Other clubs look at this and think hang in there.
“Little things like that that Arsenal just need to sort out. Obviously, they’ve had a good week. They’ve got back on track. But there was a little, just a little bit, of a niggle last night.
“They’ve had a stop-start beginning to the season. The sendings off, the injuries, dropping points, but they look like they’re now getting into a position.
“It’s a big week. They have to go and beat Manchester United. They have to go and beat Fulham.
“Then they have to look at Liverpool and think, are they going to win at St James’ Park? Are you going to go and win at Goodison Park?
“If Liverpool do, they’ll still be nine points clear. But they might be thinking that if they win their two games, they could be seven points behind at the end of the week. That’s a lot more achievable.”
The Gunners dropped costly points in their losses to Bournemouth and Newcastle United, which could come back to haunt them.
They simply have to win against Man United and Fulham if they want to remain in the title race heading into the festive fixtures, and they will fancy their chances.
There will be twists and turns in the title race as there are still 25 games to go, but every point dropped by Arsenal will impact their chances.
