Mikel Arteta will expect his Arsenal side to go toe-to-toe with Manchester City once again this season.
Last time around, Arsenal came heartbreakingly close to securing their first Premier League title triumph since 2004. They were still in the title race on the final day of the campaign, but for the second season in a row they were beaten to the crown by Manchester City.
Many will consider Manchester City to repeat their success again this season, which would mark their fifth successive Premier League triumph.
However, all reigns of supremacy must come to an end at some point, and Mikel Arteta will be hoping that now is his time to usurp his former mentor Pep Guardiola, having served as his assistant at the Etihad Stadium prior to his appointment in North London, and take his place at the top of the pile.
Gary Neville feels Man City will triumph again, and has been backed up in that assertion by Roy Keane, Jill Scott, and Jamie Carragher.
There are those with faith in the Gunners through. Ally McCoist tipped Arsenal for the title, for instance.
Now, former Newcastle United and Liverpool striker Michael Owen has had his say on who will come out on top at the end of the forthcoming campaign.
Michael Owen expects Arsenal to overtake Man City
Owen is convinced that the reigning champions’ era of dominance in English football is coming to a close.
As quoted by the official Premier League website, the pundit has backed Arsenal to win the league, and when asked for a “bold” prediction for the upcoming season, he said: “Man City reign to end.”
Of the eight other pundits asked, only Darren Bent and Leon Osman also backed the Gunners. Arteta’s former Everton teammate Osman believes that the signing of Riccardo Calafiori could push Arsenal to the title.
How Arsenal can overcome Manchester City
Last season, the Gunners were able to maintain an unbeaten record against Manchester City, beating them at the Emirates Stadium, before holding them to a draw in North West. That represented a real achievement, and a marker of Arsenal’s progress under Arteta.
Arsenal ended the season just two points behind the Cityzens in the final standings. Converting that draw at the Etihad Stadium into a win would’ve made all the difference. That’s what the Gunners need to do this season. If Arsenal want to beat Manchester City over the course of the season, they’ll need to beat them in both of their head-to-heads.
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