Arsenal's primary loss came in allowing winger Leandro Trossard to leave for Besiktas, but the incoming Bruno Guimarães nearly matched Trossard's production from a midfield role, and wing replacement Christos Tzolis has looked excellent in the early going. Arsenal's depth was tested last season and passed with flying colors, and now manager Mikel Arteta has even more options. Meanwhile, Manchester City still have outstanding talent throughout the pitch, but the change from Pep Guardiola to Enzo Maresca at manager is bound to include some bumps, and City lost key coach-on-the-field types in Rodri (Barcelona), Bernardo Silva (Real Madrid) and John Stones (Inter). This feels like a transition period for City, and Liverpool's roster transition isn't over yet, so unless Manchester United or Chelsea are ready for a big surge, Arsenal is by far the safest bet.
Arsenal Favored to Win Premier League Title
Arsenal are the strong favorites to win the Premier League title, according to ESPN Soccer, with 13 out of 15 voters predicting the Gunners to go back-to-back. Manchester City, who finished as runners-up last season, have added only question marks to their roster.
This article was assembled with AI assistance and editorially reviewed.