David James has claimed Arsenal are not in the Premier League title race for a naïve reason despite them scoring ‘for fun’ and Martin Odegaard being in ‘fantastic’ form.
The Gunners currently sit third in the top-flight table through 25 fixtures with 55 points from a potential 75 available. But Arsenal are sitting just two points shy of table-topping Liverpool and one from Manchester City. Mikel Arteta’s club also have the overall best goal difference.
Resounding results across their five fixtures since their winter break have seen Arsenal score 21 goals with only two conceded. The north London natives now have the division’s second-best offence with 58 goals. They also own the best defence with only 22 conceded all term.
David James thinks Arsenal are ‘on the outside’ of the Premier League title race
Only Liverpool (59) have outscored Arsenal across the first 25 games of the Premier League season. While Manchester City have also scored 58 times after they beat Brentford 1-0 this Tuesday. But Liverpool have conceded 24 times and Manchester City have shipped 26, too.
Nonetheless, James thinks Arsenal are not actually in the 2023/24 Premier League title race with Liverpool and Manchester City. The ex-Reds goalkeeper believes it is a two-horse tussle as they have not beaten ‘anyone else of substance’ other than Liverpool in a ‘farcical’ game.
James has told GG Recon: “Even though Arsenal are banging in goals for fun at the moment, aside from Liverpool, I don’t believe they’ve beaten anyone else of substance yet.
“And when they beat Liverpool earlier in the month, I believe it was a foul on Virgil van Dijk for the second goal and the red card for Ibrahima Konate made that game a bit farcical.
“I believe it’s a two-horse race between Liverpool and Manchester City, with Arsenal making a bit of noise on the outside.”
David James thinks Martin Odegaard has been ‘fantastic’ but his title claim is naïve
Yet James’ claim is naïve as Arsenal also took their first Premier League win over Manchester City since 2015 back in October. Gabriel Martinelli returned from a hamstring injury to score via a huge deflection off Nathan Ake. The 1-0 clash ended their 15-game winless streak, too.
Arsenal have also beaten Manchester United 3-1 this term, and thrashed AFC Bournemouth 4-0, Sheffield United 5-0, Crystal Palace 5-0, West Ham United 6-0 and Burnley 5-0. They also had to dig deep to beat the Red Devils plus Luton Town 4-3 with stoppage-time efforts.
Still, though, James hands Arsenal little chances of beating Liverpool and Manchester City in the Premier League title race. Even though Gunners captain Odegaard has impressed him so far this season. The 25-year-old has scored five goals and seven assists in 22 appearances.
He added: “As much as I don’t think Arsenal are going to win the Premier League title this year, I think Martin Odegaard has been fantastic.”
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