Tim Sherwood has revealed his latest take on the Premier League title race after Arsenal and Manchester City both clinched victories.
League leaders Arsenal looked set to drop points against bottom-placed Wolves when the worst team in the division scored a late equaliser at the Emirates Stadium.
But Arsenal scored an even later winner through a second own goal to maintain their lead at the top of the Premier League.
The Gunners were briefly five points ahead of second-placed Manchester City before Pep Guardiola’s side cut the gap with a comfortable win at Crystal Palace.
Palace beat Man City in last season’s FA Cup final but could not repeat that result at Selhurst Park, losing 3-0 with Erling Haaland scoring a brace and Phil Foden continuing his fine form.
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There was also a win for third-placed Aston Villa, who twice came from behind to beat West Ham and secure their ninth victory in a row.
Sherwood was concerned by how ‘nervy’ and ‘edgy’ Arsenal looked in an unconvincing win over Wolves but still fancies the Gunners to become Premier League champions for the first time since 2004.
He does, however, believe Man City have one clear advantage over Arsenal, while he doubts his former club Villa will have the ‘strength in depth’ to maintain their surprise title challenge.
‘Winning ugly is sometimes important and that was very ugly from Arsenal,’ Sherwood said on Premier League Productions. ‘I thought it would be a lot more comfortable than it turned out but they struggled, they really did.
‘They didn’t manage the game very well. We’re in December and they got edgy, they got nervous. The title race hasn’t even started yet and they’re doing that in December.
‘Mikel Arteta isn’t telling them to drop off but we all sort it coming. Too nervy for me, they’re that nervous and the Christmas turkey hasn’t even been carved yet.
‘What are they going to be like when it actually counts? It’s going to be panic stations. They haven’t done it before either so they need to get that trait out of them.
‘You can’t win the title now but you can certainly put yourself out of the race. I’ve liked what I’ve seen from Arsenal this season and think they’re in it for the long haul.’
Asked whether Arsenal were still his favourites to win the Premier League, Sherwood added: ‘Yeah, but that game is still fresh in my mind and I didn’t like what I saw.
‘I was a little bit worried for them there. It’s going to get more edgy and more anxious and they can’t afford to show that type of anxiety on the pitch.
‘Everything is waiting for them to fail and waiting for them to bottle it – I’m not, I hope they go and win the league.
‘Mikel Arteta is a great manager and they have a great squad – they’re capable of winning it.’
Pressed on Aston Villa’s hopes of lifting the Premier League trophy, Sherwood replied: ‘They might not have the strength in depth.
‘The only team who won’t get edgy is the team who’s been there and done it many, many times and that’s the team chasing Arsenal at the minute, Man City.’
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