Scholes states: Arsenal has lost its way in the title race.

The race for the Premier League title is entering a decisive phase, but for Paul Scholes, the legendary midfielder of Manchester United, Arsenal’s hopes have completely faded. In strong statements, Scholes asserts that the “Gunners” are out of the championship fight, while Manchester City gains strength and confidence to dominate until the end.

Last weekend, Arsenal suffered an unexpected 2-1 defeat to Bournemouth, a result that opened the door for City, which did not forgive and crushed Chelsea 3-0 at Stamford Bridge. With this setback, Manchester City has narrowed the gap to just six points, but with a game in hand, dangerously closing in on the top of the table, where Arsenal still leads.

Scholes is not optimistic about the chances of the Londoners: “I think Arsenal is done for me. All the momentum is on City’s side. There comes a time when you have to beat your direct rivals. I haven’t seen them do that yet; they don’t win big games.” The next round brings a direct clash at the Etihad Stadium, a perfect setting for City to consolidate their lead and put even more pressure on Arsenal.

The pressure on the “Gunners” is palpable, and it’s not just Scholes who feels it. Nicky Butt, a former teammate of Scholes at United, describes the psychological weight of not winning a title for a long time as a true ordeal: “Until you manage to win or overcome that obstacle, it’s an absolute nightmare. You see Arsenal living that now, especially against a City led by Pep Guardiola, who has already won so many championships.” The experience of the Spanish coach seems to be making a difference at a time when confidence is crucial.

To make matters worse for Arsenal, Roy Keane, another icon of Manchester United, did not hold back in his criticism of Declan Rice, the midfielder who has been identified as a key player in the “Gunners” midfield. Keane demanded more leadership and composure, describing the performance against Bournemouth as nervous and lacking assertiveness: “Rice needs to show more leadership. It was a nervous display, and it’s fine to be nervous, but how you deal with it is what matters. When the opposing team presses, and Bournemouth pressed a lot, don’t complicate things with unnecessary backward passes. You have to understand these situations. Arsenal didn’t learn from the first half; they did the same in the second. People like Rice need to take control.”

Keane also issued a clear warning: the responsibility cannot fall solely on manager Mikel Arteta or anxious fans. “This is for the players. The fans are not going to solve this for you, the manager can only do so much. He has a fantastic team and an excellent position in the table, but it’s the players who need to deliver the response on the pitch.”

With Arsenal losing control of the race and Manchester City proving unstoppable, the upcoming clash at the Etihad could be the decisive turning point for the title. The Gunners urgently need to “hold on” to the lead and show that they have the mettle to withstand the pressure. Otherwise, the Premier League may be heading towards yet another absolute dominance by City, leaving Arsenal fans lamenting yet another missed opportunity.

This article first appeared on Apito Final.