Arsenal title race opens up as Alan Shearer backs Mikel Arteta's side

Arsenal are five points clear at the top of the Premier League after 35 games, and Alan Shearer thinks that is enough for them to finish the job. Manchester City stayed second on 71 points after the 3-3 draw at Everton, and Shearer said he expects Arsenal to win all three of their remaining league matches.

Why Shearer is leaning toward Arsenal

Shearer was blunt about where he sees the race going. "No, because I think Arsenal will win all three games," he said, before adding, "When you think about it, Mikel Arteta and his Arsenal players now are five games away from being legends of that football club forever."

The wider picture favours that view. Arsenal are top on 76 points after 35 matches. City are on 71 after 34, so the gap is still there and the champions are now chasing rather than leading.

Arsenal also helped themselves at the weekend by sweeping Fulham aside to move six points clear, with Viktor Gyökeres scoring twice and Bukayo Saka also netting. Shearer is not pretending the title is done, but he is clearly backing the side that has put itself in control.

What happened at Everton

City's draw at Everton was messy and expensive. Jérémy Doku broke the deadlock in the 43rd minute, but Thierno Barry and Jake O'Brien scored in the second half before Barry added another, and Erling Haaland plus Doku rescued City late for a 3-3 draw.

The game also had a penalty debate attached to it. Dermot Gallagher said Michael Oliver and VAR should have been able to award Everton a penalty for Bernardo Silva's holding of Merlin Röhl. City did not get punished for it, and Guardiola's line after the match was simple enough: "It's not in our hands. Before it was in our hands. Now, no."

That is the point Shearer is really making. City have left themselves relying on Arsenal dropping points, while Arsenal have the points buffer and the easier narrative to sell in the run-in.

If Shearer is right, Arsenal only need to keep their level for three more league matches. The title race is still open, but the momentum is now firmly with Arsenal.