WHO IS IT? DIMITAR BERBATOV NAMES ARSENAL'S SHOCK TITLE RACE RIVAL
Dimitar Berbatov dismisses Arsenal's 6-point lead, saying it's "nothing." The ex-Man Utd star warns the festive period will be the true test for the Gunners.
Dimitar Berbatov isn't buying into the hype that Arsenal's already won the league. He thinks their lead is nothing right now.
The Gunners, looking for their first title since 2004, went six points ahead after beating Tottenham 4-1.
They wanted to take advantage of Liverpool and Manchester City losing, and they did, beating Spurs to get a better hold on the title race.
Mikel Arteta’s team has come in second for the past three years, but they might finally win the title after 22 years.
Berbatov, who won the league twice with Manchester United, believes Arsenal will be really tested during the busy holiday season. He says we'll know more about their chances in the New Year.
He's not impressed with Arsenal's six-point lead and thinks Chelsea could challenge for the title.
Enzo Maresca’s team, which won the Club World Cup, has won five of their last six games and is now second in the league.
When asked if Arsenal's good form meant the title race was over, Berbatov told ESPN, No way.
Everyone knows the Premier League is a marathon, not a sprint. The holidays are coming, with games that will really test you.
If you get through that period with good results and you're still on top with a good lead, then you're halfway there.
But let's not get ahead of ourselves. Sure, Liverpool is low in the table, and Man City is losing points, but teams like Chelsea could surprise people.
Six points are nice, but in the Premier League, it's nothing. It can disappear fast.
Chelsea is also being talked about as a possible title contender by John Terry.
The Blues can cut Arsenal's lead to just three points when they play them on Saturday.
"A big game this weekend as Arsenal comes to the Bridge," Terry said on TikTok.
I'm not saying it'll decide the title, but I think it'll be one of those two teams [who wins the league].
For me, Liverpool is out of it. They look like they're struggling right now.
Talking about Chelsea's recent win over Burnley, Terry added, "Good away win for the boys; it's really important to get those three points, especially after some pressure from Burnley in the first half."
I said they'd try to hit us on the counter, and they did. We had three great blocks on defence.
I think in the second half, we needed to take our chances, especially against better teams.
Before Chelsea plays Arsenal, they have a big Champions League game against Barcelona on Tuesday.
Arsenal is also playing in Europe this week, with Bayern Munich coming to their stadium on Wednesday.
DERBY OUTRAGE: PETER BANKES DOUBLES DOWN ON DISALLOWED KOLO MUANI GOAL DESPITE MASSIVE CRITICISM
Referee verdict: Discover why Peter Bankes disallowed Kolo Muani’s goal and Keith Hackett’s "stupid and soft" reaction.
Referee Peter Bankes stood by his call to disallow Randal Kolo Muani’s equaliser in the North London derby, calling it “a very, very clear offence.”
The moment sparked outrage. Gabriel, Arsenal’s defender, hit the deck after Muani’s challenge in the box. Former Premier League referees’ chief Keith Hackett didn’t hold back, calling the decision “stupid and soft".
Bankes didn’t hesitate. He blew for a foul, ruled out the goal, and VAR stayed out of it, even as Spurs fans fumed. That goal would’ve levelled it at 2-2.
Bankes explained on the Match Officials Mic’d Up show: “I was exactly where I needed to be for a cross from the right. I saw the Tottenham player put two hands into the back of the Arsenal player. That’s what grabbed my attention. When you see that live, it looks like a straightforward push – a clear foul.
“I held off on the whistle to let play run, then made the call after the ball went in. That way, VAR could step in if I’d missed something or if it looked off. But honestly, on the pitch, it looked obvious.
“I’m still comfortable with my decision. Sure, things can look different at different speeds; slow motion isn’t the same as seeing it live. But I got one look, and I was confident the two hands on the back had enough impact to be a foul.
“I know people will split on this, but I’m comfortable. That’s a free kick for me.”
The decision was a huge break for Arsenal, who ended up winning 4-1. As far as Spurs fans were concerned, Gabriel got away with one.
Ex-Premier League referee Dermot Gallagher backed Bankes up: “The on-field decision always stands. The ref saw enough for a push. VAR isn’t going to overturn that when the evidence is there.”
THE GIBBS-WHITE PROJECT: WHY MANCHESTER UNITED SEE THE FOREST STAR AS THEIR NEXT PLAYMAKER
United transfer hub. Get the report on wage bill cuts, the Forest playmaker, and City’s rival interest.
Manchester United still have a bit of a wait before the summer transfer window opens, but talk around Old Trafford is already heating up. People keep linking United with all kinds of new signings for when the season wraps up.
Michael Carrick has made quite the impression as United’s interim head coach so far. The club handed him the reins until the end of the season, and honestly, he’s done well with the opportunity.
Still, no one really knows who’ll be in charge next season. That uncertainty just adds fuel to the rumours about which players United will chase in the transfer market.
Right now, everything hinges on Champions League qualification. United sit fourth in the Premier League after a 1-0 win over Everton on Monday night. That spot could make all the difference for summer plans.
Morgan Gibbs-White's claim
Now, United have reportedly joined the hunt for Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White. The Daily Mail says United are keeping an eye on the Forest playmaker, maybe even lining up a summer move.
But there’s a snag: United want to bring down their wage bill, and that could make signing Gibbs-White tricky.
Manchester City are also said to be interested, and Tottenham apparently tried to sign the 26-year-old with a £60 million offer, but that move fell apart.
Man United's Scott McTominay stance
As for Scott McTominay, it sounds like United aren’t planning a reunion. Despite recent talk about bringing the Napoli midfielder back, TEAMtalk reports United aren’t interested, and the idea hasn’t even come up in the recruitment department.
Napoli now values McTominay at close to £70 million, just a year and a half after he left United for around £25 million. He made the move to Italy in the summer of 2024 and, in his first season, helped Napoli win the Serie A title.
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