Arsenal may already be out of the Premier League title race if Opta’s super computer is anything to go by.
The Gunners’ form has taken a hit in recent weeks, with their 1-1 draw against Chelsea seeing them trail leaders Liverpool by nine points, and sit four adrift of reigning champions Manchester City, who are second.
Having been tipped to go one further than last season’s final-day disappointment, Mikel Arteta‘s side have found themselves outshone by Arne Slot‘s impressive Reds so far this term.
Arsenal are now without a win in four Premier League games, including defeats to Newcastle and Bournemouth during this time.
With Man City also losing in back-to-back league games, Liverpool have taken full advantage of their rivals’ slip-ups, most recently beating Aston Villa 2-0 to extend their lead at the top.
And the numbers are now beginning to reflect this, with leading statistics provider Opta calculating that the Gunners now have just a 5 per cent chance of becoming champions of England.
This is in stark comparison to favourites Liverpool, who now lead the way both in the table, and in predictions.
Based on the estimated outcome of their matches this campaign, the supercomputer gives the Merseyside outfit a 60.3 per cent likelihood of maintaining their current position in May.
Meanwhile, defending champions City now have just a 34.3 per cent probability of a fifth straight title, with this likely influenced by recent defeats to Brighton and Bournemouth.
In fact, Opta makes Arsenal favourites to finish third, even though they currently sitting fourth, giving them a 52.3 per cent chance ahead of actual Chelsea, who currently occupy the position.
The Blues are tipped to take the final Champions League spot, and boast the slimmest title chances, with their odds of winning at just 0.3 per cent.
The supercomputer’s calculations have certainly seen some huge changes since the season got underway.
Even Opta’s super computer couldn’t predict Liverpool’s impressive start to the season[/caption]
Man City’s title chances were dealt a heavy blow as they slumped to a 2-1 defeat to Brighton at the weekend[/caption]
On August 15, before a ball had been kicked, Opta made City frontrunners, giving them an 82.2 per cent probability of finishing first.
Meanwhile, Arsenal were thought to be their closest rivals, with a 12.2 per cent shot.
Back then, Liverpool were estimated to have just a 5.1 per cent chance of lifting the title, having finished nine points adrift of City last term, and with a managerial switch to negotiate.
However, few could have predicted the seamless transition the Reds would make under Slot, which has seen them take 28 points out of a possible 33 so far.
But with Arsenal steadying the ship against Chelsea after back-to-back defeats to Newcastle and Inter Milan, former England star Michael Owen believes all hope is not yet lost for the Gunners.
Speaking on Premier League Productions after the London derby, the ex-Liverpool hero said of the gap at the league summit: “It’s nine points, but it was a big step forward today.
“That was a good performance today. It feels like they were back in business today, that was Arsenal again today.
“In recent weeks it’s not really looked like Arsenal. The creativity has not been there.”
Owen also pointed to the recent return of captain Martin Odegaard as a reason for the Gunners to remain optimistic, with £34million summer signing Riccardo Calafiori also set to be fit after the international break.
He continued: “It’s nine points, yes, but it feels like their big players are coming back, confidence is coming back.
“It looks to me like they’re going to start picking up points very soon.”
