Mikel Arteta decision has impacted Arsenal and Martin Odegaard – now I can only dream Liverpool and Man City drop points in title race

Now at the halfway point of the Premier League season, it’s the perfect time to take stock of the title race.

Manchester City have returned from their Club World Cup winning heroics to rack up victories against Everton and Sheffield United, completing the first 19 games of their title defence.

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Ahead of them with a game more played are surprise package Aston Villa, and their long-time sparring partners Liverpool.

The Reds finished 2023 top of the league courtesy of a 2-0 win over Burnley, but on Christmas day, the story was very different.

Arsenal were instead league leaders on the 25th, after a 1-1 draw with Jurgen Klopp’s side, but back-to-back defeats against West Ham and Fulham dropped them to fourth, and left huge doubts over their title chances.

With all considered, talkSPORT’s football correspondent Mark Goldbridge has taken a look at the lay of the land, and given his views on how the title race could end up…

Arsenal

“It’s been a bit of a surprise with Arsenal. They were top at Christmas and now they’re fourth. It’s a bit of a reality bite. 

“I watched both games against West Ham and Fulham and both games they deserved to lose. For the first time in a long time Arteta actually acknowledged that without blaming decisions that didn’t go their way. 

“I’ve never been comfortable with the [Kai] Havertz signing, I don’t think the balance of the midfield is correct I think it’s had an impact on [Martin] Odegaard and I think Arsenal would be a better team if they had a box-to-box number eight next to Declan Rice giving Odegaard the freedom to be the number ten. 

“I also think they lack a striker, [Gabriel] Jesus runs hot and cold and [Eddie] Nketiah wouldn’t start for a team like Everton or Crystal Palace, so he’s not a good enough striker to win the league, and I think their fullbacks need improvement. 

“Arsenal are technically still very much a work in progress compared to a Man City who are the complete deal.”

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Liverpool

“If Liverpool under Jurgen Klopp hadn’t won titles previously then this would be the story of the season. 

“I think they’re probably not getting the credit they deserve because they’ve won the Premier League before but this is a brand new Liverpool team, that midfield is a complete rebuild, it’s fresh, it’s got so many options in it. 

“For Klopp to take that team that was so bad last season and revamp it and put it top of the league this season is incredible. 

“They are genuine title contenders as they have players that have won the Premier League before and a manager that has, so they’re a very dangerous counterpart. 

“I guarantee you that if you could get a private word with Pep Guardiola he would be more concerned about Liverpool as they’ve been there and done it before.”

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Manchester City

“I predicted City would win the league at the start of the season, like most of the world did, because they are such a dominant force. I think they’ve benefited from the Christmas period when you look at the points Arsenal and Aston Villa dropped, even Liverpool drew with Arsenal when they should have won. 

“Man City played a game less so they have a game in hand, they’re the team that we know can win 14 or 15 successive Premier League games and we know they come alive in the second half of the season. Plus, they’re going to have [Erling] Haaland and [Kevin] De Bruyne back. 

“I think they’re a juggernaut of the modern game and you’ve got to put them as favourites. I don’t want them to win the league, I think we need a reset and someone else to win it for the benefit of the league. 

“It’s a fantastic league, we’ve seen some fantastic results and fantastic football, but if City win it again it undermines us saying what a great league it is as we need competition.”

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The Premier League top three

“Arsenal are the best of the rest, but they’re not quite at the level of City and Liverpool at the moment, unless they do something amazing in the January transfer window.

“I think Liverpool will stay the course, they’ve got enough quality and know how this season and experience in that team with Klopp, I don’t think it’s flash in the pan and they can only get better.

“Unfortunately I’ll be predicting Man City will win four Premier League titles in a row, they’re so good at doing this in the second half of the season, I hope they’ll drop points but you’ve got to go with the previous years.”

THE FINAL TABLE

1. Man City
2. Liverpool
3. Arsenal