Alan Shearer Backs Arsenal to Win Premier League Despite City Closing Gap

Alan Shearer insists Arsenal still hold a slight edge in the Premier League title race even after Manchester City reduce the deficit to two points.

ArsenalTalks Title Race Report | February 22, 2026

Alan Shearer has reaffirmed his belief that Arsenal will win the Premier League title this season, despite Manchester City closing the gap to two points with a 2-1 win over Newcastle.

The Premier League’s all-time leading scorer and Newcastle legend shared his verdict with Premier League Productions after City’s victory, maintaining confidence in Mikel Arteta’s side while acknowledging the narrowing margin in the title race.

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“Manchester City have been in this kind of position before. They have plenty of good players and their team knows exactly how to win,” Shearer said. “I still believe Arsenal might just have a slight advantage.”

Shearer Explains His Prediction

The former England captain expanded on why Arsenal retain the edge, despite City’s resilience and experience.

“I would probably still just say Arsenal… But there’s not going to be a lot between them,” Shearer explained. “Both teams aren’t going to win all of their games, so the pressure will swing back and forth. Arsenal are under pressure because of the way they’ve finished second in recent seasons. Man City have been there, they know what it takes, but I still think Arsenal might just have a slight advantage.”

The comments come after Arsenal dropped two points earlier in the week, throwing away a 2–0 lead to draw 2–2 against bottom-of-the-table Wolves. That result allowed City, who had a game in hand, to close the gap at the summit. Guardiola described City’s 2–1 win over Newcastle as “massive” given the Magpies’ competitiveness.

Shearer also highlighted the significance of the upcoming North London derby against Tottenham Hotspur. A win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium would restore Arsenal’s five-point cushion at the top and ease some of the mounting pressure.

“It would be a disaster if they didn’t win,” Shearer said earlier in the week, underlining how critical every fixture has become in the title race.

Shearer initially tipped Arsenal for third place earlier in the season, but in January he revised his prediction to back the Gunners as champions — a stance he has continued despite recent inconsistencies.

He pointed to the psychological factors in the race: Arsenal’s relative inexperience in closing out a title challenge versus City’s proven pedigree and squad depth.

“As the pressure builds, experience counts,” Shearer noted. “But Arsenal have shown enough quality and mental toughness to still be the team to beat — just.”

ArsenalTalks Analysis

The Premier League title race is finely poised. Arsenal remain favourites, but City’s relentless pursuit has kept the pressure on. Every match is now decisive, with momentum, mentality, and consistency likely to determine the outcome.

Alan Shearer’s prediction is clear: Arsenal are still at the front — but the margin is razor-thin. Sunday’s derby may well set the tone for the final weeks of the season, defining whether the Gunners can maintain their advantage or if City will finally overtake them.

For now, the punditry aligns with the pitch: the Premier League crown will be decided by results, not opinions.

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