Arsenal Title Race Fear Must Not Creep In, Warns Bergkamp

Dennis Bergkamp urges Arsenal to guard against fear and hesitation as the club leads the Premier League. Arsenal sit six points clear of Manchester City before the next fixtures, yet Bergkamp stresses mindset. The warning comes while Arsenal hold a strong position, but rival pressure and past near-misses still hover. Bergkamp believes mentality, not talent, now decides whether Arsenal stay ahead.

Arsenal could see that advantage shrink quickly. If Manchester City defeat Fulham on Wednesday, the gap falls to three points. Arsenal then visit Brentford on Thursday, so any slip could tighten the title race. The current margin offers control, yet Bergkamp highlights how quickly momentum can swing across one decisive week.

Bergkamp explains that the

real risk lies in players allowing external doubts into the dressing room. On The Overlap podcast, Bergkamp said: "The danger is, of course, that people start to talk about the last few seasons. If the players let that come to you, if you are going to mention it yourself, for example, then the players will know. "

Bergkamp refers to advice once repeated by former manager Arsene Wenger. Bergkamp added: "I know what Arsene [Wenger] always said: 'Every game is a final, just focus on the next game'. That is the main thing now. I wouldn't be too worried because I feel the other teams aren't strong enough at this moment. City may be coming there. "

Arsenal have not lifted the Premier League trophy since the 2003-04 season, when Bergkamp played in the Invincibles side. That campaign ended unbeaten, and the long wait since then shapes current expectations. Despite that gap, statistical models still rate Arsenal highly, giving the club clear advantage over Manchester City and Aston Villa.

The Opta supercomputer currently assigns Arsenal a 90.5% chance of finishing as Premier League champions. Manchester City are six points back before facing Fulham, while Aston Villa trail Arsenal by nine points. Villa’s recent dip in form reduces perceived threat over a long run. Bergkamp feels neither chasing side show sustained strength yet.

Recent league form suggests Arsenal respond well after setbacks. Arsenal have won the last two Premier League matches, against Leeds United and Sunderland, following a three-game spell without victory. Those results stabilise confidence after that poor sequence. Bergkamp still notes that maintaining intensity across the whole season remains a key challenge.

Arsenal’s away record against Brentford also shows clear improvement. Mikel Arteta's team lost the first Premier League visit there 2-0. Since that defeat, Arsenal have won three straight league away games against Brentford. The combined score in those three meetings is 7-1, which underlines progress in difficult away environments.

Bergkamp expects all title contenders to face tougher periods as European demands continue. Bergkamp said: "I don't think other teams could catch them because they are going to drop points as well. The big games are yet to come. The difficult period is yet to come, so for all the teams, because they are all still in the Champions League and fighting on. "

Bergkamp also comments on a shift in Arsenal’s playing style during recent months. Bergkamp said: "The only thing I would say is [about] the intensity of the first few months and the excitement. It looks sometimes now like 'let's not make a mistake'. And in football, if you are at the top, if you want to be a champion, you can't rely on [that mentality of] 'let's not make a mistake'. "

Bergkamp’s view leaves Arsenal with a clear message before the next Premier League games. The squad hold a strong points cushion and favourable title probability, with rivals still inconsistent. However, Bergkamp believes Arsenal must keep attacking with confidence, treat every match as decisive, and avoid letting fear of failure shape their approach.