A huge debate among pundits and Premier League followers is whether Arsenal are actually title contenders. By the time May comes around, it’ll be 19 years since the Gunners last lifted the Premier League trophy, but could this be the season where they finally end that long wait?
The likes of Brentford boss Thomas Frank and Arsene Wenger have talked up Arsenal’s title chances, while Alan Shearer and Gary Neville believe they aren’t contenders. Neville thinks Arsenal are ultimately powerless in the title race due to the ferocity of Manchester City, who he believes could win the league by “15 to 20 points”.
For now though, Arsenal are leading the way and sit one point clear of Pep Guardiola’s side. It may still be too early to state whether or not they are title contenders, but based on the points tallies after eight games, they are the outstanding side in the division so far.
It’s something of a footballing cliche that league tables begin to take shape after 10 games, but Gunners legend Thierry Henry says Arsenal fans will have to wait a bit longer than that to figure out whether their side are true title contenders or not. Henry has set a date for when his old club can be considered as challengers.
“What is it, nine games in the league? They’re back to competing I would say,” said Henry when asked by Jamie Carragher on CBS Sports if Arsenal were ‘back’.
“What’s nice to see is a team that can compete. For me, I always say this whether it’s for Arsenal or any other different team, it’s once you pass Boxing Day and Christmas – and it’ll be different this year because of the World Cup. So once you’re past January, and you’re still up there competing for the title, then you’re a title contender.”
Jot down the date in your diaries, Arsenal fans. If the Gunners are still in the race after they face Manchester United on January 21 – their last fixture of that month – then Henry believes they can be classed as title contenders.
