Arsenal are still best bet for Premier League title claims Highbury Hero | OneFootball

Ray Parlour believes Arsenal “deserve to be favourites” in the Premier League title race as they head into a testing trip to Everton but has warned that Manchester City remain the Gunners’ biggest threat as the season enters a crucial phase.

Mikel Arteta’s side go into the weekend two points clear at the top, despite an unconvincing performance in their narrow win over Wolves last Saturday night. Parlour admits it was far from vintage Arsenal but insists champions often need to grind out results.

“It was not a great performance against Wolves, there’s no doubt about that,” Parlour told Hayters. “They got away with one, but you need a bit of luck along the way sometimes. When I was playing for Arsenal and we were winning titles, we didn’t play well every week. It’s about getting a result and getting over the line somehow.”

Parlour expects Arteta to demand improvement at Hill Dickinson Stadium, where he anticipates a hostile atmosphere and a serious examination of Arsenal’s character.

“That’s where you’ve got to show a little bit of mettle,” he said. “Everton will raise their game, there’s no doubt. The fans will be right behind them and that new stadium is going to be a test for the players. You’ve got to stand up in games like that.”

Despite those challenges, Parlour feels Arsenal have earned their status as title favourites, although he is wary of a Manchester City side beginning to gather momentum.

“I still think Man City are the main challengers,” he said. “Arsenal deserve to be favourites because they’re still two points ahead, but City are clicking into form. Foden’s banging the goals in and Haaland’s a machine. If something was to go wrong with Haaland, it might do Arsenal a favour, but the bookies don’t usually get it too far wrong.”

Parlour, speaking to us as an ambassador for NetBet Online Casino, also refused to discount Aston Villa, praising Unai Emery’s side for their consistency and attacking quality, while questioning whether their squad depth and European commitments might eventually catch up with them. Beyond that, he believes teams like Chelsea and Liverpool could still influence the race if they find a run of form.

However, one area of concern for Parlour is Arsenal’s game management late on, after conceding late goals in recent matches. He feels Arteta’s frustration after the Wolves win was understandable.

“To see games out, sometimes you’ve got to play in the other half,” he explained. “Get it into the corners, win throw-ins, waste a bit of time. They seem to drop deeper and invite pressure, and that’s when teams push right up.”

Drawing on his own experience, Parlour added: “Sometimes you’ve just got to go a bit more direct, win second balls and keep the ball further away from your goal. If it’s not pretty, who cares? If you’re 2-1 up and trying to win the game, that’s all that matters.”

As the title race tightens, Parlour believes Arsenal’s ability to combine quality with pragmatism could ultimately decide whether they stay ahead of City and get over the line.