Arsenal finished last season seven points clear of Manchester City, but their title defence is now under threat due to William Saliba's injury. The Gunners have finished in the top two for the past four seasons, but retaining the title is hard, according to Darke. He believes that another major signing is needed for the problematic left wing position to strengthen Arsenal's chances of retaining the title.
Meanwhile, Aston Villa's potential to challenge for a top-six finish is uncertain, with the departure of Morgan Rogers to Chelsea and Youri Tielemans to Manchester United making it hard for Villa to maintain their top-six finish. Brentford, on the other hand, could qualify for a first-ever foray into Europe if top scorer Igor Thiago can repeat his 26-goal bonanza from last season. However, their worst-case scenario is that their form dried up on the run-in last season, and opposition teams figure out how to counter their dynamic direct style of play.