Arsenal reach ‘boiling point’ in title race but who is starting to ‘purr’? Martin Keown assesses Premier League challengers

That is the view of Martin Keown, who says his former side is at “boiling point” in the race and has tipped them to finally land the big one this campaign after three successive second-place finishes.

Arsenal sit top of the table after 12 games and although it is still early, Mikel Arteta’s side have been in great form, losing just one match since the start of the season and winning six of their last seven to establish a six-point lead over second-place Chelsea.

Speaking exclusively to TNT Sports, Keown, who played in three title-winning sides for the north Londoners, has implored the current crop of players to love and enjoy the experience of hunting down the prize.

“To love it, to not fear it, to embrace it,” he advised. “This is what you’ve played all these years for, to be in this type of position.

“You’ve got to relish it. Don’t worry about how big it is. Just enjoy it.

“It looks to me as if they’re at boiling point and they’ve just got to keep that going.

“Progress and do what they do in the preparation for every game now, keep the routine the same and keep winning games.”

Chelsea youngsters might not feel pressure

Up next for the league leaders is a trip across London to face their current closest challengers, Chelsea, in the big game of the weekend.

With the average age of their starting line-ups rated the youngest in the Premier League this season, Keown believes this could be a factor in how they approach the challenge of a title charge.

“Look at Chelsea,” he said. “They’re the Club World Cup champions. They didn’t do that by accident.

“You could say maybe they’re a bit… are they young in their group? But sometimes when you’re young, you don’t feel pressure.”

Premier League 2025/26 – Average age of starting XIs (as of 28 November 2025)

Via Opta.

“Let’s see how they get on at the weekend,” added Keown, warning “they’ll have had an extra day’s rest, won’t they?”

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City starting to ‘purr’ but ‘question mark’ over squad depth

Manchester City, currently third, remain a side nobody can rule out of the race, especially with Erling Haaland in their ranks, who sits atop the Premier League scoring charts with 14 goals already this season, five ahead of his closest challenger.

“Look, I think Pep, he’s had lots of good nights in the Champions League and (Leverkusen) wasn’t one of those, was it? He was looking after his players. He cares for his players,” said Keown.

“They were in the Club World Cup as well. These players aren’t getting a rest. But the bigger picture is, are some of those able to replace what he’s got because you want them to be able to step up? That’s going to now be a question mark for them.

“I don’t think they’re far away from being what they used to be with probably a different group of players now.

He added: “City are starting to purr a little bit. I think Phil Foden now has been given the keys, but when you don’t play Haaland and Foden and all these big players, they don’t seem to quite have the second shelf to choose from, so that could cost City going forward.”

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Liverpool need to win every game

It seems strange that a conversation over the destination of the title will not feature Liverpool, but after a poor recent run that has seen the holders lose six of their last seven in the league, defending their crown looks a distant dream.

Currently, Liverpool are 12th in the table, 11 points off top spot and, remarkably, just seven points above the relegation zone.

“Well, they’re pretty well going to have to win every game from between now and the end of the season,” said Keown, effectively ruling them out of the race.

Villa tipped to ‘push’

Of any potential outsiders, Keown pointed to another of his former teams in Aston Villa, and believes missing out on Champions League football last term could benefit them.

Villa were fourth at the start of the weekend, on 21 points and eight behind Arsenal at the summit.

“I think now, 12 games in, it’s starting to formulate who is capable of what,” said Keown. “I think Aston Villa have been interesting.

“They had a really poor start and have now found themselves in the top four. They could maybe push a little bit.”

“With them not being in the Champions League gives them a little bit of a rest period,” added Keown.

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Striker fitness key for Gunners’ hopes

Keown still believes that Arsenal remain the strongest team in the division, and has been especially impressed by the way the team has continued to excel despite managing a number of key injuries.

In particular, after Kai Havertz was sidelined at the start of the campaign and with summer signing Viktor Gyokeres absent since the start of November, Keown lauded Arteta for being able to adjust without a recognised striker.

However, he did warn that keeping key players fit is key if they are to achieve their ambitions this year.

“It doesn’t look as if Arsenal are going to slip up,” he said. “We have to remember Arsenal are without a striker. (Mikel) Merino has been playing. I’m not sure we can call him a makeshift striker anymore. He seems like he’s actually doing quite well there, but still it’s a narrative Arsenal don’t want.

“They want to get their strikers fit and for them to be successful in all competitions, I think that’s on the horizon.

“But they need to get everyone fit and win all these important games that are around them right now.”