The Premier League is back for another season, and Arsenal will be hoping to successfully defend the crown they won last season. The Gunners ended their 22-year hoodoo back in May as they edged Manchester City in what proved to be Pep Guardiola’s final term at the Etihad Stadium.
Mikel Arteta was the mastermind as the north Londoners reigned supreme, taking advantage of poor seasons for Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham among others to finish top of the pile. Arsenal have since added Bruno Guimaraes and Christos Tzolis in a bid to strengthen their title-winning squad, while City and Chelsea have both smashed the British transfer record to support their new man at the helm, Enzo Maresca and Xabi Alonso respectively.
Paul Scholes and Wayne Rooney Back Arsenal
Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes has backed Arsenal to reclaim their crown, and in comfortable fashion. "They look strong. They look too strong. They'll win it again," he said on the Good, the Bad, and the Football YouTube channel.
Wayne Rooney said on Stick To Football: "You’re looking at Arsenal and Man City. Chelsea will be a lot better this season, Tottenham will be better. You've got Liverpool in there as well. So it’s going to be tough. Arsenal have the potential to run away with it but behind them we could see a lot of changes. I think Arsenal are the favourites to win it but can United nick second off Man City and start to build again and maybe challenge for the title next season?"
Michael Owen and Jamie Carragher Offer Contrasting Views
Also on the Good, the Bad and the Football, former striker Michael Owen said: "Arsenal only have to stand still and they win the Premier League again. There are too many questions over the others teams, there are questions everywhere this season with all the new managers bar Arsenal. They will be steady and get mid to late 80 [points] and I don’t think anyone can beat that. I think there are more question marks over this season than ever before. Arsenal are just set in stone to win the Premier League."
Jamie Carragher told the Football Ramble: "I think City. The reason I think City is, they were close last year. I know Pep's gone. I get that. But when you've had the same manager for 10 years, the flip side of what people will say - that's it hard to [follow in his footsteps] - but [Enzo Maresca] will offer something a little bit new, a little bit fresh. With Arsenal I do feel like they will be [focused on] the Champions League. Winning the Champions League for Arsenal is far bigger... if you got to March, April and you were still in the Champions League, that's where you'd go, 'Declan Rice, you're not playing Saturday, you're playing Tuesday in the Champions league.' I'm not sure City will have that."
Danny Mills, Chris Waddle, and Louis Saha Weigh In
Ex-Man City defender Danny Mills believes that the trophy will find its way back to London. "Arsenal, you have to say, are probably favourites," he told talkSPORT BET Slots Site. "They’ve won it and they’ve added to their squad, but it’s very difficult to win it back-to-back. There’s always that feeling of, ‘We’ve done it now.’ Arsenal have to be the favourites because of their stability and because they've added to their squad. But everyone will want to beat them, as they were champions last season."
Tottenham legend Chris Waddle believes that it will be Spurs’ London rivals Chelsea, that run Arsenal closest in the title race. "Arsenal have got the healthiest, biggest and strongest squad, so they have to be the favourites for me, but if there’s one club who could upset the balance at the top of the table this season it’s Chelsea," he told Snabbare. "They've got the squad. If Xabi Alonso can sort all their egos out and knit that squad together into a proper team then they’ve got the players to win a lot of football matches, and they haven’t got any European competitions to worry about this year. The Premier League will be their priority with no other distractions so I’d be very surprised if Chelsea are not up there this season."
Louis Saha backed his former club, Man Utd, to be in title contention this term in Michael Carrick’s first season as the permanent manager at Old Trafford. "Arsenal look like favourites to win the title again but every Premier League season comes in different stages," the Frenchman told Mr Gamble. "Right now, Arsenal have made the best impression and looked a serious team over the summer and in the Community Shield. I think their signings will make them more dynamic this year, and that should give them confidence, but Manchester United are getting there too. They don’t look like a team who will be dominant at the moment but they could grow into this season with some good games and good performances. They need more goals and a solid back four again, but there are players who haven’t featured yet and more new signings to come. By the end of the season, they will be in the conversation for the title, or at least in the top four."
Gareth Barry Predicts Arsenal to Go Back-to-Back
Ex-England international Gareth Barry is also predicting Arsenal to go back-to-back, and the former Man City midfielder feels that his old employers are weaker without Rodri. "I have Arsenal down as huge favourites," he told BetVictor Online Casino. "I just feel with City, with what's going on, the threat is less and less this season and Rodri leaving has just added to that. It's Arsenal's title to take. I still think City will possibly be in second place, but they'll be less of a threat than they were last year."
