Former Arsenal defender Emmanuel Eboue believes the Premier League title race is still wide open, insisting that four clubs remain in contention despite Arsenal’s current lead at the top of the table.
The Gunners sit six points clear after 20 matches, with 48 points, as they chase their first league title since 2004. Manchester City and Aston Villa are joint second and third on 42 points, while Liverpool occupy fourth place, trailing Arsenal by 14 points with 18 games left to play.
Arsenal are set to host Liverpool in a crucial clash in north London on Thursday, as Mikel Arteta’s side look to avoid a fourth consecutive second-place finish.
Speaking at the Ladisfaction event, Eboue said Arsenal are strong favourites but warned that their squad depth could be a concern as the season enters a demanding phase.
“I think there are still four teams in the title race this season,” Eboue said. “Arsenal and Manchester City are definitely there, but I don’t think Aston Villa or Liverpool are completely out of it yet.
“Aston Villa are very close to the top in terms of points and they’ve been amazing so far. It’s difficult, but based on what I’ve seen, I can’t rule them out.”
Eboue also pointed to Liverpool’s gradual improvement after a slow start to the campaign.
“The same goes for Liverpool,” he added. “They started slowly, but you can see they’re getting better. This is a very busy part of the season and the gap can close quickly, especially with them playing Arsenal this week.
“If Liverpool end up winning the league, then something has gone really wrong for Arsenal. But this is a very tough league where any team can take points off you.”
While backing Arsenal to go all the way, Eboue admitted he has concerns about their ability to compete on multiple fronts.
“For me, Arsenal don’t have enough players to fight for every trophy, and that worries me,” he said. “If they keep playing like they are, I think they’ll win the league. But if they start dropping points, it will be very difficult, especially against teams like Liverpool, who won the league last season.”
Eboue stressed the importance of this season for Arteta, noting the growing pressure after several near-misses.
“The club is like my family and I really hope this is the year they finally win the title,” he said. “They’ve been so close for three years, and if they don’t win it this time, it will be very hard for the manager.
“The fans have watched great football for years without a trophy. If Arsenal don’t win the league or the Champions League this season, the disappointment will be huge, and the pressure on Arteta will only increase.”
