{"id":2794,"date":"2026-04-06T08:54:01","date_gmt":"2026-04-06T08:54:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/?p=2794"},"modified":"2026-04-06T08:54:01","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T08:54:01","slug":"gary-lineker-makes-arsenal-title-claim-and-accuses-mikel-arteta-of-panicking-football","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportings.com.ng\/?p=2794","title":{"rendered":"Gary Lineker makes Arsenal title claim and accuses Mikel Arteta of ‘panicking’ | Football"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Ex-England striker Gary Lineker (Picture: YouTube)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Gary Lineker believes Mikel Arteta has shown signs of \u2018panicking\u2019 in recent weeks but still expects Arsenal to win the Premier League.<\/p>\n

Arsenal lost the Carabao Cup final to Manchester City before the international break and suffered a shock FA Cup defeat to Championship side Southampton on Saturday.<\/p>\n

Those back-to-back defeats mean an Arsenal team who were chasing a historic quadruple just two weeks ago have fallen short in two competitions.<\/p>\n

Arsenal are still on the verge of a memorable season, however, as they attempt to win their first league title in 22 years and lift the Champions League for the first time ever.<\/p>\n

Their nine-point lead over second-placed Man City is \u2018huge\u2019, according to Lineker, who remains confident Arsenal will clinch a long-awaited Premier League title.<\/p>\n

But the England legend admits Arsenal are going through a \u2018little wobble\u2019 and has also accused Arteta of \u2018panicking\u2019 since the Carabao Cup final defeat.<\/p>\n

\u2018It\u2019s\u00a0been a tough two weeks for Arsenal,\u2019 Lineker said on The Rest is Football podcast<\/a>. \u2018People are asking if\u00a0they\u2019re\u00a0panicking or if\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0a crisis,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0definitely a\u00a0little wobble.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\"Southampton\t<\/div>
Arsenal are going through a difficult spell (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018Obviously\u00a0Gabriel went off with ice on his knee so\u00a0that\u2019s\u00a0a concern because he will be a big miss if\u00a0he\u2019s\u00a0out. The next game or two are hugely important for Arsenal, they need to steady the ship,\u00a0there\u2019s\u00a0no doubt about it.<\/p>\n

\u2018They\u2019ve\u00a0got a huge lead in the title race\u00a0but\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0squeaky bum time.\u00a0I think they will be fine, I think they will win the league, which will still be the main thing for them.<\/p>\n

\u2018The Champions League would obviously be an enormous bonus because\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0a competition\u00a0they\u2019ve\u00a0never won.<\/p>\n

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Southampton stunned the Premier League leaders (Picture: Getty)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u2018I\u2019m\u00a0pretty confident\u00a0they will win the league.\u00a0It\u2019s\u00a0not\u00a0a bad situation\u00a0to be in, nine points clear at the top of the Premier League and in the\u00a0quarter-finals\u00a0of the Champions League.\u2019<\/p>\n

Lineker added: \u2018Southampton played exceptionally well and Arsenal were off it.<\/p>\n

\u2018I do want to throw something out there and\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0easy in\u00a0hindsight\u00a0but I thought there was a slight signal of panic when they withdrew so many players or the players themselves withdrew from international duty.<\/p>\n

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\u2018I just wonder if it showed a bit of panic when you need a bit of calm and\u00a0confidence.<\/p>\n

\u2018It\u2019s\u00a0easier to say that now but I just wonder if it showed us something because you\u00a0wouldn\u2019t\u00a0ordinarily do that.\u2019<\/p>\n

Fellow ex-England striker Alan Shearer is less optimistic about Arsenal\u2019s title aspirations following their FA Cup defeat to Southampton.<\/p>\n

\u2018This is not a fluke,\u2019 Alan Shearer on BBC One<\/a> as Southampton celebrated a brilliant victory in the FA Cup. \u2018Victory went to the better side on the night.\u2019<\/p>\n

Speaking to Betfair<\/a>Shearer added: \u2018After Arsenal got knocked out of the FA Cup, it will be incredibly tough for them, mentally, to go on and achieve what they want to achieve.\u2019<\/p>\n

Arsenal face Sporting in the quarter-finals of the Champions League on Tuesday night before returning to Premier League action at the weekend against Bournemouth.<\/p>\n

For more stories like this,\u00a0check our sport page<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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Arrow<\/title>\n<\/svg>MORE: \u2018They\u2019re not ready mentally!\u2019 Former Chelsea star makes worrying Arsenal trophy claim<\/span><\/p>\n

Arrow<\/title>\n<\/svg>MORE: FA make Gabriel Martinelli decision after Arsenal star shows referee \u2018total disrespect\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

Arrow<\/title>\n<\/svg>MORE: Arsenal warned \u2018perfect\u2019 Sporting hold one significant advantage in Champions League quarter-final<\/span><\/p>\n

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