Former Premier League striker Alan Shearer has expressed unwavering confidence that Arsenal are finally on course to end their 22-year Premier League title drought. According to the legendary forward, Mikel Arteta’s squad has reached a level of maturity, tactical cohesion, and mental toughness that makes them the standout title contenders this season. His remarks followed Arsenal’s dominant and highly composed 2-0 victory over Burnley, a performance he described as the mark of true champions.
That win wasn’t just another result — it secured the Gunners’ ninth straight victory in all competitions and an impressive seventh consecutive clean sheet, sending a clear message to rivals. With the win pushing them further ahead at the top of the table, momentum and belief continue to grow around the Emirates, fueling talks that this could truly be their long-awaited redemption season after coming close in recent years.
Impenetrable defence driving Arsenal’s charge
Arsenal extended their gap to seven points following goals from Viktor Gyökeres and Declan Rice at Turf Moor, a performance that also saw them match a long-standing club record for consecutive clean sheets. Their defensive discipline and collective work rate have formed the backbone of Arteta’s structure, drawing comparisons to some of the most solid sides in Premier League history.
With the team now eyeing Chelsea’s iconic record of conceding just 15 league goals during the 2004/05 campaign, Shearer argued that Arsenal’s foundation at the back is what separates them from previous seasons. “They’ve scored again from a set-piece, but there’s been so much more than that in their performance,” he told BBC Sport.
“I like the way they’re using [Riccardo] Calafiori and [Jurrien] Timber in advanced positions to create overloads and win set-piece opportunities. I can’t see a weakness.” Shearer’s analysis highlights Arsenal’s tactical versatility — an ability to defend aggressively, move the ball fluidly, and dominate physically that hasn’t always been associated with them in the past decade.
‘No longer soft-centred’ — pundits praise Arsenal’s maturity
Former Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha emphasized that Arsenal have evolved into a complete and balanced team — tough when necessary, fluid when in control, and mentally powerful across all phases of the game. “If it needs to be a fight, it will be a fight. If it needs to be a footballing game, it can be that too,” Onuoha asserted, pointing out that their depth and mental steel now firmly establish them among elite contenders.
[/p]Gary Neville, often a cautious observer when it comes to praising Arsenal, also expressed newfound conviction in their title credentials. “Arsenal are reliable, you can trust them. This is your title, Arsenal. I’ve never really felt that sure before,” he said on Sky Sports — a rare and significant endorsement of their consistency and mentality this campaign.
Arteta’s ruthless consistency key to title ambition
Manager Mikel Arteta praised his team’s first-half dominance, relentless pressing, and sharp defensive shape after the win over Burnley. “We gave nothing away, and that was the platform to win it,” Arteta said, emphasizing how control and discipline continue to be central to their progress.
After finishing second in three back-to-back seasons and learning painful lessons from late-season slip-ups, Arsenal appear to have developed the maturity, structure, and psychological edge needed to sustain a title charge from start to finish. With an increasingly noticeable gap between them and fellow challengers Liverpool and Manchester City, momentum and belief are now firmly on their side.
If performances like this continue, Arsenal may finally be ready to reclaim the Premier League crown and bring an emotional end to a two-decade-long wait for domestic glory — signaling a new era under Mikel Arteta and validating the painstaking rebuild that has brought them to this powerful moment.