Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand has backed his old side and Arsenal to challenge Manchester City for the Premier League title this season.
Ferdinand has hailed Arsenal‘s recruitment and now thinks the Gunners and United will be City’s closest challengers in the new campaign.
Speaking to TNT Sports, the United and England legend said: “I think Man United and Arsenal, definitely the two guys I see challenging. If anyone’s going to get close to them [City], it’s going to be those two.”
Ferdinand later went on to add: “I think Arsenal have done the same [as United]. They’ve recruited superbly well in this window — three players that definitely improve not only the squad, but can improve the starting XI.”
David Raya now looks set to join Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber at the Emirates, so Arsenal really are having an impressive transfer window.
According to The Guardian, the north London club have agreed a £30m deal with Brentford to sign the goalkeeper this summer.
Arsenal should come second
Right now, you would have to make Arsenal favourites to finish second behind Manchester City. They gave them a real fight in the title race last season and their squad now seems much stronger.
With the additions of Rice, Havertz and Timber, their depth has drastically improved. And once Raya arrives to provide Aaron Ramsdale with competition, it will look even better.
In Mikel Arteta, the Gunners also have a very talented coach at the helm.
All things considered, then, anything below second would probably be a disappointing league campaign for Arsenal.
The Gunners have set the bar after what they did last term and their squad has improved since then, so they should be looking to kick on now. City are an elite side; the title may once again be out of reach for Arteta’s men. However, they have enough to retain their runners-up spot.
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