Arsenal's remarkable 5-1 win over Manchester City at the weekend will give the Gunners "massive belief" that they can overhaul Liverpool at the top of the Premier League table.
That is the view of former Arsenal midfielder Ray Parlour, who won three Premier League titles during his time at Highbury and spoke exclusively to Sports Mole in the wake of Arsenal's astonishing victory over the holders.
Martin Odegaard, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Thomas Partey, Kai Havertz and Ethan Nwaneri put Pep Guardiola's men to the sword at the Emirates, keeping the Gunners six points behind Liverpool having played a game more than Arne Slot's side.
After Wednesday's EFL Cup semi-final second leg with Newcastle United, Mikel Arteta's team will have a 10-day break in between matches - which they are set to fill with a trip to Dubai - and Parlour can envisage the Gunners returning refreshed and putting up a genuine fight for a Premier League and Champions League double.
Asked if Sunday's result could fuel the belief that a title comeback is possible, Parlour said: "Absolutely it is. It will give the team massive belief they can now go on a long unbeaten run, similar to last season and push Liverpool all the way.
"They have a short Dubai trip coming up which can help, and then like last year, come back with a real incentive to do as much as they can in the league, and also give the Champions League a big push. Arsenal, though, must focus on themselves, and then see if Liverpool slip up. Don't worry about anyone else helping you out."
Are the stars aligning for Arteta's Arsenal?
© Imago
Parlour and his 1997-98 Arsenal teammates know better than anyone about extraordinary Premier League title turnarounds; that year, Arsene Wenger's men were a full 12 points behind Manchester United at this point in the campaign but still finished atop the pile.
A marvellous 10-match winning sequence - including a key 1-0 success at Old Trafford - allowed Arsenal to overhaul Sir Alex Ferguson's crop, and the 2023-24 iteration were just as irrepressible after returning from their customary Dubai trip.
Indeed, Arsenal won their first eight Premier League games of 2024 and ultimately prevailed in 16 of their final 18 contests of the season, but an agonising 2-0 home defeat to Aston Villa allowed Man City to retain their crown.
While no Gooner should have been pleased to see their side exit the FA Cup at the first hurdle to Man United, their non-participation in this weekend's fourth-round fixtures - and direct qualification for the Champions League last 16 - means that Dubai is waiting for them, music to the ears of Arsenal fans across the globe.
A trip where play is just as important as work, Arteta and Arsenal relish their jaunts to the Middle East and could hardly be jetting off on the back of a more exceptional Premier League result, although whether they can reverse their 2-0 EFL Cup semi-final deficit versus Newcastle United on Wednesday remains to be seen.
Nevertheless, a decimation of the champions and anticipated Dubai trip surely equals a recipe for success for Arsenal, who should now be believing more than ever that the Premier League crown remains within reach.
However, Arteta's side failed to make a single new signing in the transfer window, a gamble that could potentially prove costly if lone striker Havertz suffers an injury.
Ray Parlour was speaking to Sports Mole on behalf of NetBet Sports Betting.
Ben Knapton
