Manchester United legend Gary Neville has backed Arsenal to win the title again, saying Mikel Arteta has the best defensive unit in the Premier League 'by a million miles'.
The reigning champions began their new campaign with a comprehensive 3-0 win over Frank Lampard's newly promoted Coventry just over a week ago. They return to action away to Aston Villa, who were hammered 4-0 at Brighton in their opening match.
Neville's defensive praise
Speaking after United's victory on Sunday, Neville suggested Arsenal's 'amazing' set of defenders set them apart from his former club and the rest of the division.
'It's incredible what Arsenal have done really, to sign Ezri Konsa, because they've got [Jurrien] Timber, [Ben] White, [Cristhian] Mosquera, [William] Saliba, Gabriel [Magalhaes], [Piero] Hincapie, [Riccardo] Calafiori, [Myles] Lewis-Skelly,' he said. 'They've already got eight amazing defenders and now they've signed another really good centre-half.'
'It's almost like they're doubling down and saying: we're not going to concede goals, we're just going to make sure we're better than everyone else defensively by a million miles – and they are. That will win them a title again.'
Concerns over Chelsea and Liverpool
Neville also voiced concerns over Chelsea's defensive unit compared to Arsenal's after Alonso's men clung on for victory over Brighton after going three goals in front.
'They had to make the decision to bring in a new goalkeeper [Emiliano Martinez]. They've done that and brought in a big personality,' the ex-United and England right-back continued. 'It was [Levi] Colwill, [Maxence] Lacroix and [Wesley] Fofana that played there [against Brighton] and I just look at that… what I see are very talented defenders in a lot of teams but I don't see units.'
'But Arsenal, of course, when you think of Timber, Calafiori, Saliba and Gabriel, that's a proper back-four with the goalkeeper David Raya behind them. That's the only real team I look at right now.'
Transfer market needs
According to Neville, Liverpool and Chelsea may both need to turn to the transfer market again to establish themselves as a defensive force under their new managers.
'Liverpool have [Bradley] Barcola, [Cody] Gakpo, [Florian] Wirtz, [Hugo] Ekitike, [Alexander] Isak, [Rio] Ngumoha, they've got a great group of attacking players,' the eight-time Premier League winner went on. 'Then you think defensively, the full-backs, to not support Andoni Iraola and give him new full-backs and for United not to give back-up at left-back or right-back… Leny Yoro has come on today, that can't be your back-up full-back.'
'For Chelsea, maybe that's the next part of their recruitment. They have recruited well this summer, maybe that's the next part. They've got talented centre-backs but that defensive part for a few of the teams is a real problem.'
