Supercomputer Picks Premier League Winner as Arsenal Struggles Against Wolves

Arsenal may still lead the Premier League table, but their latest performance has raised eyebrows. The Gunners needed a late own goal from relegation-threatened Wolverhampton Wanderers to secure a narrow 2-1 victory at the Emirates Stadium. 

Despite dominating the stats, Arsenal struggled to put the game to bed, allowing Wolves to score twice before a late misstep gave the points to Mikel Arteta’s side.

Meanwhile, Chelsea, Manchester City, and Aston Villa all secured wins over their respective opponents, keeping the pressure on Arsenal at the top. 

Chelsea beat Everton 2-0 thanks to goals from returning star Cole Palmer and French fullback Malo Gusto. Liverpool also returned to winning ways with a 2-0 victory over Brighton, as Mohamed Salah came back from suspension to provide an assist. 

Manchester City and Aston Villa maintained their pace at the top with wins against Crystal Palace and West Ham respectively.

Supercomputer still backs Arsenal

Despite Arsenal’s shaky performance, Opta’s supercomputer continues to favour the Gunners for the Premier League title. According to the latest calculations, Arsenal has a 68% chance of winning the league this season. 

Manchester City is the closest challenger with a 22% probability, while Aston Villa trails with just 6%. Other teams, including Liverpool and Chelsea, have less than a 1% chance of claiming the trophy.

The same analysis also predicts the likely relegation candidates for the season. Wolverhampton Wanderers, Burnley, and West Ham are tipped to drop back to the Championship, highlighting the gap between the top and bottom of the table.

Arteta admits Arsenal needs improvement

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta acknowledged his team’s performance against Wolves was far from perfect. “It was a relief, but a very clear understanding that the margin should have been bigger,” he said. “This is the Premier League. 

We are relieved because we managed to score a goal at the end and go and win it, but we need to improve in that sense for sure.”

Adding to Arsenal’s challenges, defender Ben White suffered a possible hamstring injury during the match, compounding the team’s injury concerns. 

White has struggled with injuries this season, and losing him at a critical stage could test Arsenal’s depth further.

While Arsenal remains favourites according to the supercomputer, the Premier League is far from decided. Manchester City and Aston Villa are keeping the pressure on, and any slip-ups could give challengers a chance. For now, the Gunners may lead the table, but the narrow win over Wolves shows that even favourites can have tricky nights in the unpredictable world of English football.