‘Lucky calls’: Michael Owen makes Arsenal title claim despite Liverpool sitting top

It has been another action-packed weekend of Premier League football, with Arsenal and Liverpool winning, but Manchester City dropping points.

If Pep Guardiola isn’t lifting the title in May, then you feel this past week would have played a huge part in it all.

Rodri’s season-ending injury has been a game-changer because it has boosted Arsenal and Liverpool’s chances of becoming champions.

Before a ball was kicked this season, many were backing Arsenal and Manchester City to contest for the main crown.

There was uncertainty with those from Merseyside because Arne Slot had just walked through the doors after Jurgen Klopp’s exit.

But, after six Premier League matches, Liverpool are sitting top of the Premier League table and perhaps showing everyone that they mean serious business.

Of course, Manchester City can bring in a replacement for Rodri during the January transfer window, but until then, if they continue to drop points, then their rivals will believe even more.

One thing is for sure, Michael Owen doesn’t expect Manchester City to be lifting the title when the final ball is kicked.

The former England striker isn’t even going for his old club, instead, he is backing Mikel Arteta to get the better of his old teacher.

Owen did admit that Arsenal have seen off some ‘lucky calls’ of late, but he is baking them to get the job done, as he told Premier League Productions (28/09/24 at 8:10 pm).

Arsenal backed to win the Premier League title ahead of Manchester City and Liverpool 

“I personally think Arsenal are going to win the league this year,” said Owen. “Yeah, I do. I think they are going to win it.

“But they have had a couple of lucky calls. I don’t know why, the last game against Manchester City, I know there was a lot of hot air and words spoken from Arsenal’s point of view. But actually, they got lucky in that game with the referee blowing the whistle before and the free-kick getting taken early. That could have been a different game there.

“Luck is on their side, at the moment, but I still think they are a very good team and I think they could go on to win it this year.”

Rodri’s season-ending injury

It has been well-documented that Manchester City’s record is far worse without Rodri than with him.

The first game without the Euro 2024 winner equals dropped points and now all eyes will be on their weekend clash against Marco Silva’s Fulham.

READ MORE: £47m midfielder Arsenal wanted before Mikel Merino has barely played since rejecting Gunners to move elsewhere

Everyone knows about Manchester City’s incredible record during the second part of the season, and if their rivals don’t have a gap by the time February comes about, then they might just keep that blue ribbon on the Premier League trophy.