Former Manchester City defender Joleon Lescott has named Arsenal as his pick to win the Premier League title this season, following the Gunners' emphatic 3-0 victory over City in the Community Shield. The win, which came in Enzo Maresca's first competitive match as City manager, reinforced Arsenal's status as defending champions after they finished seven points clear of City last May to claim their first league title since 2004.
Lescott's Prediction and Reasoning
Speaking to Mirror Football, Lescott acknowledged the difficulty of winning consecutive titles but said Arsenal currently stand out. 'It is very early [to make predictions], but you would say Arsenal,' he said. 'Considering the key factors, they probably have fewer obstacles ahead of them. [Mikel] Arteta has continuity with the players and the squad now has genuine belief, so I would say Arsenal. I know how difficult it is to win back-to-back titles, but that is my overriding opinion.'
Lescott, who won two Premier League titles with City, also commented on TNT Sports after the Community Shield: 'Arsenal are close to where they want to be and I wasn't surprised by that performance. That's the worrying thing, they're at this level so early on. It's going to be a daunting time for everyone.'
Concerns Over Manchester City
Lescott expressed concern about City's performance, particularly the gap between the two sides. 'Concerned is the right word [for City]. It's the whole performance really, and the gap. The worrying thing is the gap,' he said. 'I doubt [Maresca] will be embarrassed, more disappointed. Embarrassment is probably too strong. You don't want to lose 3-0 to your arch rivals. There will be a lot of analysing this week and recognising what we can improve on.'
Manchester City remain second-favourites with bookmakers to win the league, ahead of Liverpool, Manchester United, and Chelsea. Liverpool, who won the title two years ago, finished fifth last season, leading to the dismissal of manager Arne Slot. Manchester United, under Michael Carrick after he replaced Ruben Amorim mid-season, finished third, while Chelsea, who were 10th, are expected to improve under new boss Xabi Alonso.
Arsenal's Title Defence Begins
Arsenal start their title defence on Friday night at home against newly-promoted Coventry City, managed by Frank Lampard. Asked about the team's mentality, Arteta said: 'Probably there's more belief. You know how to do it, you know what it takes to win it and the contribution of everybody because last season that was the biggest asset of the team. That every single player contributed to make us champions. We know that's going to be exactly the same.'
