Arsenal have been sitting on the top of the Premier League table since game week three, but such is the quality of their closest rivals and second-placed Manchester City that Mikel Arteta’s men are still seen as the underdog in the race.
City, if they manage to overtake Arsenal in the closing stages of the season, will complete a league three-peat, and certainly apart from fans of the Blue side of Manchester and Tottenham Hotspur faithful, no one in the Premier League would like to see that happen. Typically, every neutral wants to see a more competitive league and accordingly, different winners.
But sometimes Arsenal divide opinions, particularly because of their fan base, who sometimes get so passionate (and loud) that it becomes annoying for others. Perhaps that’s a result of their huge fan base on social media.
Antonio talks about Arsenal’s title hopes and their fans
West Ham striker Michail Antonio highlighted the same conundrum when talking about the Premier League title race and his preferred pick for the glory on a BBC podcast.
The Jamaica international said: “I want Arsenal to win. But, honestly, I don’t like Arsenal fans! I’m going to say it, I don’t like them. I have family members, my agent, my nephews. They are annoying! And they have always been annoying! Arsenal Fan TV! Annoying.
“They are the worst [to have banter with]. They haven’t won the Premier League in years, but it’s like they won it last year!”
Despite backing Arsenal for the title, it was incidentally Antonio and his West Ham teammates that gave Arsenal their most frustrating blow in recent weeks. Last weekend, the North London outfit faced the Hammers and enjoyed a dominating first quarter, where they scored twice through Gabriel Jesus and Martin Odegaard.
But as the game progressed, West Ham got back into the game through Said Benrahma and Jarrod Bowen. Antonio, meanwhile, was in the thick of things on both ends. It was his hand-ball that handed Bukayo Saka an opportunity to make it 3-1 from the spot, only for the Arsenal youngster to miss the target. Minutes later, Antonio came close to giving West Ham a lead and completing a turnaround, but could only manage to clip the bar through his header.
Arsenal slowing down at the climax of the season
The draw helped Manchester City close the gap on Arsenal to four points with a game in hand. Antonio has claimed that Arsenal players have started talking about City’s form amid their own misfortunes lately.
Antonio will hope the setback won’t derail Arsenal’s campaign. Anyhow, the 33-year-old’s main focus is on ensuring West Ham finished the season on a high. On Thursday, he scored a brace in their 4-1 win over Gent in the Europa Conference League, helping his side progress to the semi-finals of the competition.
David Moyes’ men are doing impressively well in Europe, but have failed to replicate the same form in the Premier League and find themselves in a relegation battle. Antonio, similarly, is enduring contrasting fortune in different competitions. In the Conference League, he has scored four goals in three appearances. But in the league, he has scored just three times in 27 appearances.
