Paul Merson admits he is "half-scared" that Arsenal will make a mockery of his defiant Premier League title prediction after they dropped more points at Wolves.

The former star had recently said that the title was as good as done in mid-December, despite their being months left to play. His comments came when the north Londoners were comfortably clear and closest rivals Manchester City were struggling to click into gear - Merson claiming they were "not the Man City of old".

Now Arsenal have drawn their last two Premier League outings, which has allowed the gap to shrink. City can close to within two points of the leaders if they win their game in hand and now Merson is far less certain that he once was.

Arsenal still need to get over the line despite all their quality and improvement under Mikel Arteta, with Merson referencing a comment by their former captain, who felt they had to get over the line this year or their ship may sail.

He said on Sky Sports : "I wouldn't want to be in their shoes if they don't win the league this year because if they don't, I remember Patrick Vieira saying before the Manchester United game that it's now or never. I'm starting to think that. I was very bullish about Arsenal winning the league but that's half-scared me tonight."

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The state of play now means that City do have their title hopes in their own hands. Should they win every game, including their clash against Arsenal at the Etihad, then they would claim a fifth title in six years with the Manchester outfit growing in confidence.

The draw at Molineux, where Arsenal were 2-0 up, will only feed into the narrative that the Gunners haven't got the ability to get over the line. They also let a lead slip against Brentford recently and Arteta has continued to face questions over a trophyless period that spans back to 2020.

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"It's going come on full blast now, being bottle jobs, melting. It's full-on now - drawing away at Brentford and then being two goals up against the worst team in the league," admitted Merson.

Arsenal face a north London derby this weekend and Arteta said on their latest setback: "Too many things went wrong one after the other. It's best not to judge it. We are all too emotional about it and it's not the moment to do it.

"It's a moment when you don't perform, and you are at this level, and expectations are where they are. You have to take the hit, because as well, we deserve it."

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