Ray Parlour knows a thing or two about lifting the Premier League title. “The Romford Pele” is an Arsenal legend. Known for his versatility, work rate, and of course his first-rate quality, he’s well-positioned, knowing what it takes to go right to the very top in football. We sat down with Ray and picked his brains on the title race challengers, the top four battles, and the sides fighting in the top half of the table.
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The Title Race
Ray has been involved in many title races. The three-time Premier League winner secured his first League medal in 1997/1998, his part of a domestic double, as Arsenal also won the FA Cup that season. His second came in the 2001/2002 season as the new-look Arsenal side triumphed once again.
His third is the most special. Arguably the most memorable achievement in Arsenal’s recent history, the 2003-2004 season saw Arsenal go undefeated in the league, earning them the nickname “The Invincibles.” This season marked Parlour’s third Premier League title with the club. Although these achievements are now 20 years in the past, he knows exactly what it takes to get over the line, and get your hands on the biggest trophy in English football.
Give us your view of the title race now: “Man City are still favourites in my opinion with the squad. They’ve obviously got an incredible and deep squad. Don’t forget they have De Bruyne coming back as well. But if you look at the table, it’s not looking too bad for Arsenal. For me, I always look at March-April time. That’s the time when you really can say, look we’re in a title race here. So for me, I look at the table in March and April, and now it’s just making sure you are not far away.”
In terms of the odds, the treble winners Manchester City are expectedly still favourites at 8/13, even after a bumpy start by their lofty standards. If they can get their noses back in front of Arsenal before Christmas, going into the latter stages of the season, they could push on and pull away from the chasing pack. Ray’s old club Arsenal are closest contenders in the odds at 7/2, with Liverpool just behind at 9/2.
Battle for Top Four
The battle for Champions League football has become as important as trophies. Clubs will get not only a financial boost but can attract bigger stars that will ultimately have a positive impact on the whole team. In Ray’s fifteen-year career, he only missed out on the top four an incredible three times. The quality consistently shone through and he was able to ensure he never missed out on reaching Europe’s biggest competition. But what does he think about the current top-four race?
Give us your top four for this season: “In no particular order, I would say Man City, Arsenal, Liverpool and Spurs, although I’ve been impressed with Unai Emery and the job he is doing at Aston Villa, especially their home form. Looking at Spurs, I can see the positive effect Ange has had on the team and if I’m Daniel Levy, you have to back your manager now and give him the tools to compete. Ange has brought a breath of fresh air to Spurs. He seems great with the press and you’re looking forward to his press conferences.”
The top four odds are a bit of a mixed bag. City are almost a certainty at 1/50, and Arsenal sit at 1/10. Liverpool are also 1/8 and look in very good form at the moment. Tottenham find themselves fighting with the likes of Newcastle and Villa ranging from Newcastle at 6/4 and both Villa and Spurs at 2/1.
*Odds subject to change.
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