Paul Merson claims the Premier League title is "100% gone" for Arsenal after their defeat to Aston Villa.
The Gunners went into the weekend on top but saw Manchester City leapfrog them on Saturday as they hammered Luton Town. Both Arsenal and Liverpool had the chance to go back above the reigning champions, but the Reds fluffed their lines as they were stunned by Crystal Palace.
Arsenal then followed suit as they were beaten by Villa, who scored twice in the last 10 minutes. It leaves City sat on top with six games to go and Merson believes the north Londoners can now wave goodbye to their hopes of the title. He was critical of their defending for Leon Bailey's opening goal as Arsenal failed to get out to stop the original cross.
The pundit then reflected on Sky Sports: "You don't get these chances, you'll sit there at home tonight and go it is gone. For me it is gone. You've worked that hard for 32 games to go that extra yard, just one yard, to stop that cross and it is lazy."
Arsenal sat top for the majority of last season before eventually falling away in the final week. This season they were looking to avoid a repeat, but their loss has allowed the champions to steal the initiative and Merson thinks it is now a done deal.
He explained his reasons: "They are chasing the best team in the world, who do it year in, year out. They reel off wins - when was the last time they got beat? They just reel them off, we're not sitting here wondering how City will be for the rest of the season - they'll reel them off. If it was someone else they were chasing then every chance, but Arsenal are bang out of luck."
City, in the eyes of many, have the easiest run-in of the three title hopefuls. They take on the likes of Nottingham Forest and Fulham with Tottenham in north London their trickiest encounter.
Arsenal meanwhile still have away days to negotiate at Wolves, Tottenham and Manchester United. Arsenal's defeat was their first league reverse on the calendar year with Declan Rice adamant plenty can still change.
He said: "I still think there will be plenty more twists and turns to go. We're in a three-horse title race with two unbelievable sides but, as you've seen with other results today, the Premier League can throw up anything. Six finals to go in the Premier League and we'll give it everything."
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