Arsenal handed triple Premier League title boost in response to 'big favourites' tag

Arsenal have been labelled as 'big favourites' for the new Premier League season and our writers have given their view on whether this is a fair descriptor

Arsenal go into the new Premier League season as champions, after they ended a 22-year wait to lift the crown. The Gunners know that they will be challenged again to win it for the first time in two consecutive campaigns since the 1930s.

Mikel Arteta has said that he wants his team to set a new standard as they aim to reach another level. There will be plenty of attention on the UEFA Champions League, the trophy that they have still been painfully unable to win despite coming so close last season.

Big changes are still expected, but so far, only Christos Tzolis and Illan Meslier have joined the club this summer. With all that in mind, we gave the question to our writers to give their thoughts on the topic.

Tom Canton

I am not one to boast about anyone’s chances of doing anything. Tempting fate is certainly one of my least favourite things to do unless it is going up to John Cross before a game and saying, “Easy 5-0,” just to wind him up!

But the managerial changes at so many other clubs, plus influential players, particularly at Manchester City, moving on, leave me with real belief that a big opportunity is presenting itself. Forget that Arsenal might sign Bruno Guimaraes or even, in what would be a dream world move, Vinicius Junior; the squad is excellent.

Mikel Arteta saw his side deal with so many injuries across the last two years, and if the changes behind the scenes help solve that, having Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka, Jurrien Timber, Riccardo Calafiori and Ben White available for more of the campaign only makes this team stronger.

More than anything, however, is that the pressure from last season is gone. They’ve done it, the monkey is off their back, and now the monster has been unleashed, and I don’t think they will be stopped.

Ryan Taylor

Arsenal are title favourites, there is no getting away from that. They have now proven themselves as winners, have kept the crux of their title-winning squad together thus far and look sure to add quality.

Things could change in the coming weeks, of course, but if they are somehow able to add Vini Jr to their ranks on top of Bruno Guimaraes, retaining their crown looks a formality. Manchester City have lost Pep Guardiola, Bernardo Silva, John Stones, Nathan Ake and could yet lose Rodri, so they will need some time to adapt to Enzo Maresca's methods.

Chelsea will be better, Manchester United should be stronger, though they will now have to juggle Champions League football, while Liverpool should also improve. Arsenal's squad is really, really strong, and they are well-stocked in basically every department. It would take a brave man to bet against them, though we don't know what this season will hold with injuries.

Jake Stokes

Arsenal are certainly the favourites to win the Premier League this season, in my book.

Although the Gunners are yet to actually strengthen Mikel Arteta's starting lineup, having only signed Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge – a squad player – Illan Meslier from Leeds United on a free transfer – a second choice goalkeeper – and Piero Hincapie – a second choice left-back, albeit a very good one – whose option-to-buy clause was activated, they're still in a much better place than their rivals.

Arsenal have a great blend of stability and quality, on and off the pitch, which, again, their rivals don't have. Manchester City forked out £116m for Elliot Anderson, but no amount of money can compensate for the loss of Pep Guardiola, let alone Bernardo Silva and maybe Rodri, too.

Liverpool are no position to take the Gunners to the wire either. The Reds have recruited poorly in recent years; they're still without a world-class centre-half to partner Virgil van Dijk, a pair of world-class full-backs, and a world-class right-winger to replace Mohamed Salah.

Meanwhile, Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak need to start justifying their eye-watering price tags! Manchester United won't be in the conversation either: they have the Champions League to worry about for the first time in a while.

With no European football, Chelsea should be in a position to make great progress this season, but talk of a title is a step too far. As for Tottenham Hotspur, they won't be looking up the table until they get more than 40 points on the board...