Whilst the new Premier League season has only just got started, thoughts are already turning to who will come out on top in the title race.
Arsenal will be aiming to go one better than last time around, when they finished as runners up behind Manchester City for the second successive season, by getting their hands on the trophy.
Mikel Arteta will believe that his side has what it takes to be crowned champions, and he is not alone in holding that conviction.
Arsenal legend Ian Wright has backed his former club to win the league. Former Tottenham Hotspur boss Harry Redknapp has tipped Arsenal for the title, too.
However, many will still have Manchester City down as the favourites, and for good reason. The Cityzens’ record under Pep Guardiola is nothing short of extraordinary, and they boast a squad stacked with talent.
The Gunners are certainly the underdogs in this title race, but if they can use the pain of last season to fuel them, and learn valuable lessons from that campaign, then they might just pull off something special.
Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher clash over Arsenal prediction
Sky Sports pundits Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher have now had their say on where they think the title will end up at the end of this season.
Ex-Liverpool defender Carragher can only envision the trophy returning to the Etihad Stadium once again.
However, former Manchester United captain Neville has boldly favoured Arsenal once again.
Neville backed Arsenal to be champions last season. Whilst he was ultimately incorrect on that occasion, he believes that Arteta’s side have made further progress since then.
Neville said: “My reasoning last year was that coming off the back of the treble for City might have an impact on them at certain points, the demands, the expectations, the injuries, but I think they won their last nine games, which is just special.”
Carragher then stated: “Something that’s interesting about Arsenal, no team in Premier League history has improved their position five years in a row. Arsenal have done it four years in a row, and to go beyond where they did last year is going to be tough.”
Neville responded: “Arsenal had an incredible season so I was not a million miles away. They are getting nearer and I feel they will do it. Pep Guardiola wins all the time but I feel Arsenal are so consistent that this could be the year.
“Arsenal are getting to such a high level now of consistency, defensive solidity, the balance of the team, they look like they have got a great spirit.”
Before Carragher added: “In the last couple of years, when they’ve gone for the league, they’ve gone out of the domestic cups and not got to a final in Europe. This group of players are good enough, and they should be winning a trophy this season.”
Can Arsenal beat Man City to the title?
As long as they avoid major injuries, this Arsenal squad can go toe-to-toe with Manchester City over the course of a season and come out on top.
However, Carragher is right to point out that the Gunners have sacrificed other opportunities for silverware in recent seasons. Arsenal need to improve their showings in the domestic cups this time around.
Winning such a trophy would give Arteta’s players a taste of success, and a hunger for more.
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