Alan Shearer sends clear Arsenal title message to Arteta as 'worry' emerges

Arsenal are currently four points clear at the top of the Premier League table, but Alan Shearer has warned it is too soon for the Gunners to be concerned with their rivals

Alan Shearer has cautioned that it's early for Arsenal to be preoccupied with their competitors in the Premier League title race this season. Mikel Arteta's squad have manoeuvred themselves into a favourable position after 11 matches.

The Gunners are four points ahead of second-placed Manchester City and eight points clear of last season's champions, Liverpool, who are in eighth place.

Arsenal have secured eight victories, two draws and suffered only one defeat in the league so far. Their sole loss was at Anfield against Liverpool, due to a second-half free-kick from Dominik Szoboszlai.

However, before the international break, they were stunned by a draw against a soaring Sunderland team at the Stadium of Light. Arsenal initially trailed in the first half, but goals from Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard put them in the lead as extra time commenced.

In a dramatic twist, Sunderland substitute Brian Brobbey scored an impressive overhead kick to equalise the score with just minutes left. It was only the third time Arsenal have dropped points this season but it allowed Man City to slightly close the gap with a comfortable victory over Liverpool the next day.

Shearer, however, believes it is much too early for Arsenal to fret about their rivals' results. He maintains that Pep Guardiola's City will always pose a threat in any title race, but the Gunners have all they need to mount a strong challenge this time around.

"This is not a time for Arsenal fans to be concerned when it comes to winning the Premier League. I wouldn't say that Arsenal’s result [at Sunderland] will scare them when it comes to looking over their shoulder at Manchester City," Shearer said in an interview with Betfair.

"I think those players and Mikel Arteta have been in the game long enough to know that you'd be a fool to write Pep Guardiola off. You'd be a fool to say, 'we're much, much better than them'. I don't think Man City will go away.

"I think they'll make a real good fist of it this time. I wouldn't be too concerned if I was an Arsenal fan or an Arsenal player.

"Any team will find it tough going away to Sunderland. The hard thing for them is the way they conceded in the last minute after a tough first half.

"They were much better in the second half, much more energy. The disappointing thing is the way they conceded so late on in the game. I wouldn't be too concerned that you go there and get a draw."

Following the international break, Arsenal face a pivotal sequence of fixtures including North London derby clashes with Tottenham Hotspur and a showdown with Chelsea, alongside a challenging Champions League away trip to Bayern Munich.

With the festive period looming, Arteta will be hoping his squad can maintain their position at the top of the Premier League table as they chase their first league title since 2004.