Michael Owen and Rafa Benitez have backed Arsenal to still be challenging for the Premier League title post-World Cup in Qatar.
Former England striker Owen thinks, as the wins stack up for Mikel Arteta’s men, the feeling will be ‘wow, they are the real deal’.
Whilst former Premier League boss Benitez feels Arsenal will have ‘fresh legs’ after the World Cup in Qatar next month because it will also allow the ‘young’ team to recover.
Over the weekend, the Gunners moved four points clear at the top of the Premier League table, thanks to their 1-0 win at Leeds United.
And aided by Liverpool ending Manchester City’s unbeaten start to the new Premier League season.
Whilst the aim at the start of the campaign was to secure Champions League football, after missing out last term, the club’s current position has surprised some.
Nonetheless, both Michael Owen and Rafa Benitez shared their thoughts on Arsenal’s title challenge, as they told Premier League Productions.
“Hang on, four points is a nice little cushion,” said Owen. “I cast my mind back to Leicester. It certainly wouldn’t be a surprise like that.
“But when Leicester went four points clear, it was like ‘oh, it’s only Leicester, they won’t win it’. Arsenal have a lot more ability than that team. I do think, if they can continue like this for the next three, four and five games, then people will start thinking, ‘wow, they are the real deal. They are the biggest thorn in the backside of Man City’.
“It’s going to be a strange season with the World Cup. Stranger things have happened and they are looking good all of a sudden.”
Benitez added: “They have a young team, with the World Cup, then with the break, they will recover and have fresh legs for the second half of the season.
“They have confidence, so I agree, I think they will be there because they will have more belief and energy to do it.”
JANUARY WINDOW KEY
There are certain parts of the Arsenal team that need bulking up and January could be key in how they end the season.
Last January, the north London club didn’t bring anyone in, other than letting Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang go.
That lack of freshness cost the team, so they have to learn from their mistake this time around.
Perhaps needing another defensive-minded midfielder to cover for Thomas Partey would be a good road to go down, as well as bringing in another attacking face that can operate naturally on the right.
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