Paul Merson makes bold Premier League title claim after Arsenal draw with Chelsea

Paul Merson makes bold Premier League title claim after Arsenal draw with Chelsea Louis Sealey Published December 1, 2025 11:48pm Updated December 1, 2025 11:48pm Share this article via whatsappShare this article via xCopy the link to this article.Link is copiedShare this article via facebook Comment now Comments Arsenal legend Paul Merson (Picture: Getty)

Paul Merson has backed Chelsea to finish above Manchester City this season but believes Arsenal will still win the Premier League title ‘easily’.

Sunday’s top-of-the-table clash between Arsenal and Chelsea finished 1-1 with Mikel Merino cancelling out Trevoh Chalobah’s opener at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea started brightly but were dealt a major blow just before half-time as superstar midfielder Moises Caicedo was sent off for a late tackle on Merino.

The hosts recovered from the setback to take a surprise lead after the break – Trevoh Chalobah heading home to score just the seventh goal that Arsenal have conceded this season.

Premier League leaders Arsenal responded well and equalised through Merino’s header but could not find a winner, returning to north London with just a point.

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The derby stalemate leaves Arsenal five points clear at the top of the Premier League, with second and third-placed Manchester City and Chelsea separated by just a point.

Arsenal will look to return to winning ways on Wednesday when another London rival, Brentford, visit the Emirates Stadium.

Chelsea celebrate their goal against Arsenal (Picture: Getty)

Merson expects his former club to brush aside the Bees and insists he ‘can’t see anybody touching Arsenal’ in the title race.

‘Arsenal have dropped points against Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea, but they are winning against everyone else and that is making a difference,’ Merson told Sportskeeda.

‘If you told Arsenal at the start of the season that they were going to have a run where they face Tottenham, Bayern Munich and Chelsea in the space of a week and come away with two wins and a draw, they would have taken it all day long.

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‘Manchester City are still the closest challengers for Arsenal and they were nowhere near good against Leeds.

‘Even after the draw against Chelsea, I can’t see anybody touching Arsenal at the top of the table. If they can look after their players well, I think they can easily win the league this season.

‘A comfortable win against Brentford at home is coming up. I’m going for Arsenal 3-0.’

Merson was ‘impressed’ by Chelsea’s performance against the title favourites and says Enzo Maresca will be ‘super happy’ with the result.

Enzo Maresca after Chelsea’s draw with Arsenal (Picture: Getty)

While he doubts Chelsea’s title credentials, Merson says the Blues can finish above second-placed Man City and expects their momentum to continue when they face Leeds United on Wednesday.

‘You’ve got to be impressed by the way in which Chelsea played against Arsenal,’ Merson added.

‘To have your best player, your engine, sent off and still play that kind of football against a team like Arsenal, Enzo Maresca will be super happy.

‘We always say Chelsea are a very young team, but they have a lot of players who are full internationals for their country. Despite being young, most of them have considerable experience playing at senior level.

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‘Looking at Chelsea’s squad, they surely have it in them to finish above Manchester City this season.

‘Leeds is a big game for Chelsea fans because they don’t get along very well with their Leeds counterparts. It’s a rivalry that stretches back to the 1970s.

‘Elland Road will be rocking and Chelsea will have to be careful. In the first 20 minutes, the crowd will be firmly behind Leeds and the hosts will be buzzing.

‘Chelsea must weather that early storm and then they can play their football and go on to win it.’

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