AS Roma manager Jose Mourinho has offered his views on why he does not see Arsenal being the Premier League title-holders this season.
This is despite the Gunners being currently top of the league table after 17 games, with their recent 2-0 victory against Brighton & Hove Albion on Sunday ensuring they are back in the top spot after Liverpool were held to a goalless draw by Manchester United.
Reigning champions Manchester City surprisingly made a mess of things for themselves when they further dropped points following a 2-2 draw against Crystal Palace on Saturday, and sit currently fourth in the table, five points off Arsenal.
Be that as it may, Mourinho still expects Pep Guardiola’s side to beat Liverpool to the title by a hair’s breadth and explained the difference in squad depth between both teams being his major reason why they would do so ahead of the Gunners is.
“I would say Man City 51%, and Liverpool 49%,” the former Chelsea manager replied when asked who he thinks would win the Premier League title this season on Obi One podcast.
“Nah,” Mourinho retorted when asked “No Arsenal?”
“It is not the rivalry, is it the right moment?” he replied when Mikel Obi insisted he knew why the Portuguese would not choose the North London club.
“They always capitulate,” Obi claimed.
“Honestly, rivalry apart, I would like them to win,” Mourinho clarified.
“Of course, Chelsea and Man United are not going to win it. Out of these three, I would be happy for Arsenal to do it. I would be really happy for them to break that thing.
“It is because when the cumulation of matches starts coming, Man City have two teams.”
Understandably Arsenal fans would be be in total disagreement against Mourinho, yet the opinion of the ‘Special One’ when it comes to winning league titles should not be taken with a pinch of salt, obviously.
Man City may be struggling right now but there is still largely imprudent to deny that they have the squad depth to go all the way when the games start piling up.
The Gunners are not favored with the same advantage, as a result of which the key players could risk injuries or suffer from fatigue when it matters the most.
Arsenal’s obvious lack of a broad quality squad depth across all departments could end up haunting them towards the end of the campaign just like it did last season. Furthermore, with stringent Financial Fair Play regulations tying down their hands from strengthening their squad during the January transfer window, it will be interesting to see how they solve that problem.
Arsenal would need to judiciously manage their squad amid the injury woes if they earnestly want to win the title as it takes more than sheer desire and desperation to win the Premier League.
Manchester City are still going to fancy their chances despite their recent dip in form.