"That is when we lost the championship" – Robert Pires pinpoints where Arsenal lost Premier League title to Manchester City last season

Arsenal great Robert Pires has stated that the Gunners lost the 2023-24 Premier League title after slumping to a 2-0 defeat to Aston Villa.

Last campaign, Mikel Arteta's side finished second behind Manchester City, who earned 91 points, in the Premier League table with 89 points.

During a recent interaction on The Obi One Podcast, Pires shared his two cents on Arsenal's 2023-24 Premier League season. He opined:

"Can you imagine... you playing for Arsenal or being a manager and finishing the season with 89 points and not being champions? It's crazy, it's because Manchester City won 15 games in a row at the end. But I think for me, the mistake by Arsenal is when we lost the game at home against Aston Villa. That is when we lost the championship."

Pires, who helped the Gunners lift two titles in 2002 and 2004, added:

"Just before that game, the team was perfect. They were playing well, got a draw against Manchester City and mentally they were perfect. It was difficult for City to break them down to score a goal. The difference between City and [the Gunners] was very small."

Arteta's outfit, who ended on 84 points in the 2022-23 season, crashed to a shock loss to Aston Villa earlier this April. After Leon Bailey netted the opener in the 84th minute, Ollie Watkins scored in the 87th minute.

Following their 2-0 defeat at the Emirates Stadium, the Gunners went on to win six Premier League matches in a row to finish their season.

Gary Lineker lauds Arsenal-linked attacker

Earlier this Sunday (August 18), Gunners target Ivan Toney was left out of Brentford's Premier League opening contest against Crystal Palace. The 28-year-old is believed to be close to leaving Brentford this month.

Now, England great Gary Lineker has urged Mikel Arteta's club to sign Toney this summer. He told The Rest Is Football podcast (h/t Metro):

"I like Ivan Toney a lot. I think he's super talented and gives you a completely different from what else they've got. He's a real threat and technically a really good footballer, so I think he would fit in at Arsenal. Once you're at the stage where a player is left out, the writing does appear to be on the wall."

Toney, whose current deal is set to expire next June, has registered 36 goals and 11 assists in 83 Premier League games for Brentford so far.