Former England international Paul Merson has boldly claimed that Arsenal will finally break a 22‑year drought and clinch another Premier League title if they can overcome Fulham at the Emirates. The Gunners, who sit three points clear at the summit after a tense 1‑0 win over Newcastle United, now face a decisive test on Saturday night as they host Marco Silva's side in a live Sky Sports broadcast. Merson’s optimism comes despite a shaky display against Newcastle, where Arsenal’s expected‑goals (xG) figure was a modest 0.49. The match was opened by a spectacular ninth‑minute strike from Eberechi Eze, giving the visitors an early lead that they never relinquished.
Yet after that early shock, the home side struggled to assert themselves, even seeing Yoane Wissa fire a close‑range effort over the bar in the dying minutes, nearly squandering two points. "If Arsenal beat Fulham, it’ll be the league title," Merson told the Premier League Show, emphasizing that the next fixture could be the decisive moment in the title race, regardless of the nerves that have been evident in recent weeks. He added, "Arsenal never really looked like scoring against Newcastle and that worries me.
You go 1‑0 up against a struggling Newcastle side, you think they’ll crumble, but they held firm. Everyone’s nervous now. When you reach the final stretch of the season any mistake could be the end of the campaign. We can’t afford another runner‑up finish; we’ve been second four times in a row." While Merson focuses on the psychological aspect, former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher warned that Fulham could act as a "banana skin" for the league leaders.
Carragher pointed out that Arsenal’s schedule is unusually congested, with the team playing Champions League fixtures on Wednesdays and Premier League games on Saturdays, leaving little time for recovery. "They had a Champions League semi‑final first leg against Atletico Madrid just four days ago. To travel back from Madrid, recover, and then face Fulham on Saturday is a massive ask," he told Sky Sports News.
Carragher highlighted the disparity in fixture load between Arsenal and their closest rivals Manchester City, who will have played only two matches in the same 11‑day window. He argued that fatigue could become a decisive factor, especially as Arsenal’s pressing style demands high intensity. "You might think the difference is minor, but three games in six days versus three in eight days is huge at this stage of the season," he explained. "If Arsenal can’t recover quickly enough, Fulham – a solid side in their own right – could be the real banana skin that stops them.” The upcoming clash will be Arsenal’s fourth game in eleven days across both domestic and European competitions, while City enjoys a comparatively lighter schedule.
This imbalance has fueled speculation that the Gunners’ recent performances may be more about physical strain than tactical shortcomings. In the aftermath of the Newcastle win, pundits have debated whether nerves or fatigue are the primary concern for Mikel Arteta’s side.
Carragher admitted his confidence in Arsenal’s title chances has waned since the Newcastle victory, noting that the team seemed more focused on simply securing three points than playing attractive football. "There was an energy I liked in the City game, a quick‑fire counter‑attack. Against Newcastle they looked content with a narrow win, and that worries me more than nerves," he said. He also praised Arsenal’s defensive organization, stating that they are arguably the best team in the league when they are without the ball.
Their pressing intensity, he noted, places them among Europe’s elite, but sustaining that level over a congested schedule is a daunting challenge. "When you watch them at their peak, they’re a nightmare to play against. But the fatigue is evident when they look sluggish, as we saw at the Emirates," Carragher added.
The match against Fulham will therefore be a litmus test for both the mental fortitude and physical resilience of the title‑challenging Gunners. A win could cement their lead and potentially hand them the trophy, while a slip‑up might open the door for City or even Liverpool to close the gap.
Fans can tune in to the live broadcast on Sky Sports Premier League and Sky Sports Main Event from 5 p.m. on Saturday. The club’s supporters will be hoping that the squad can overcome the fatigue factor, manage the pressure, and deliver the decisive performance that Paul Merson believes will finally bring the Premier League crown back to North London after more than two decades.