Tim Sherwood believes Arsenal are still the 'team to beat' as he revealed his predicted top-six for the upcoming Premier League season. The former Tottenham boss expects the Gunners to retain their title, with Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham, and Manchester United following in that order.
Arsenal's momentum
Following three successive second-place finishes, Mikel Arteta finally guided Arsenal to their first league title in 22 years last season. The Gunners have already laid down a marker with their emphatic victory over Manchester City in the Community Shield last weekend. Summer signing Christos Tzolis showed his talent in wide areas, while Bruno Guimaraes made his first start for the club after his arrival from Newcastle United.
Arsenal are still looking for further reinforcements at centre back and left wing, but Sherwood believes the champions already have more than enough quality to retain their title. 'I think Arsenal are still the team to beat,' he told Metro via NetBet Sport. 'What was missing over the last three years was them to actually get over the line and win it and have that swagger of knowing they've done it and not that pressure.'
Pressure on rivals
It has been a busy off-season for virtually all of Arsenal's potential title rivals, with a slew of managerial changes. Enzo Maresca is back at Manchester City, while Andoni Iraola and Xabi Alonso have been tasked with improving the fortunes of Liverpool and Chelsea after their respective poor domestic campaigns last season. Sherwood thinks the pressure will be on Maresca straight away after Sunday's dispiriting performance against Arsenal.
'Maresca is going to have to fend off those questions,' he added. 'He's not Pep Guardiola, but no one is. It's going to be difficult for him because he's always going to be the man who took over from the great one. We saw how difficult that was after Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United.'
Doubts over Liverpool and Man Utd
Sherwood has less confidence in Liverpool's title credentials after Iraola's arrival, insisting: 'Are they strong enough from the outside looking in? Probably not. I'd say they'll be in and around the Champions League argument.' He noted they haven't done a lot of business but did a lot last year, and that Iraola 'took time at Bournemouth. He ain't got a magic wand.'
Having come in midway through last season as an interim, Michael Carrick is preparing for his first full season in charge at Old Trafford. Sherwood fears that the added demands of Champions League football will cost the Red Devils in the league. Asked for his top-six prediction, he said: 'I think Arsenal win it. I think Man City are still second, just on the history of what I've done previously. I'll go Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham and then Man Utd just missing out on Champions League in sixth.'
