Arsene Wenger was the prime mover and master tactician who led Arsenal to their last Premier League title back in 2004 and the Gunners legend is optimistic this could be the season when his former club are crowned champions of England once again.
Wenger claims Arsenal is able to capitalise on the lack of a “super dominating team” in the Premier League this season to lift their first title since 2004.
The legendary former Gunners gaffer is also inclined to believe the mid-season break imposed due to the World Cup in Qatar favors his old club’s “good opportunity”. Admittedly Arsenal have enjoyed a scintillating start to the season under Spaniard Mikel Arteta, recording six wins out of their seven league games to sit atop the table at this early stage.
After dropping points in draws with Newcastle and Aston Villa, defending champions Manchester City lay just one point behind, ahead of Tottenham on goal difference. Wenger is of the opinion that Pep Guardiola’s side this season is not the all-powerful side of recent years and suspects this could open the door for their rivals to challenge them for the title.
“I would say they have a good chance this season because I don’t see any super dominating team,” the French icon told Sky Sports of Arsenal’s title hopes. “I believe that it is a good opportunity to do it this season.
“Of course, it’s a little bit of a special season as well because you have the World Cup in the middle and you don’t know how much that will affect the performances of the individual players and of the teams. Overall, I believe there is a good opportunity there this season.”
Despite Arsenal heading into the September international break as the Premier League’s current leader, Arteta has been coy in talking up his side’s hopes of being crowned champions come May. Speaking in his press conference after last Sunday’s classy 3-1 victory over Brentford, he said: “You can ask me every day. Today we are top of the league, I am so happy.
“Yesterday, I was so annoyed because we lost it [against Manchester United] and we used that today as we want to get back there and show that we want to be there and that’s what we’re going to do. Push to be the best that we can be and that’s the aim and then the table won’t lie after 38 games.”
Arsenal kick back into action after the international break when they host local rivals Tottenham at the Emirates in what could be their most challenging fixture of the season so far as Spurs have not tasted defeat in the top flight this term and issued a declamatory statement of their own quality by thrashing Leicester 6-2 in their most recent outing.
Meanwhile, discussing his plans for the international break, Arteta said: “I want to spend some time with my kids and my family, whether that will be in London or away. And look after the boys that are here because we have quite a few, we need to look after them as well because some of them are injured. And start to prepare because we have a beautiful game coming up very soon.”