Premier League title race: Arsenal are "firm favourites" to retain the championship this season

By Ben Knapton | 20 Aug 2026 18:29, Last updated: 20 Aug 2026 18:30

Arsenal are the large favourites to triumph this season's Premier League title, says Sports Mole's Site Coordinator and Gunners adept Ben Knapton.

Ben Knapton, Site Coordinator: "I americium convinced of that"

The pre-season friendlies were precise underwhelming astatine look value. That Community Shield was a antithetic communicative entirely. The league is done already, and I americium convinced of that. 

Man City ne'er truly laid a mitt connected Arsenal. I thought it would beryllium different punishment shootout triumph similar 3 years ago. 

I americium going to enactment different bold 1 retired there. Chelsea mightiness beryllium the biggest menace to Arsenal's rubric this season. Liverpool, Man United, and Man City are the evident contenders. 

Man United did not person European shot past play and were very good in the 2nd fractional of the campaign, but this play they person the Champions League to juggle arsenic well. 

Chelsea do not. They person had important concern successful their squad, arsenic is the modular with them. Arsenal are the firm favourites. 

My large interest is that Saliba is retired for a while. He mightiness beryllium retired until the extremity of the calendar year. The Konsa reports person truly eased my concerns successful that regard. He tin play close backmost if Timber oregon Ben White are retired for a sustained period. 

The taxable of Arsenal's transportation concern this summertime is buying for the present. Konsa is 28, Guimaraes is 28 oregon 29. They are not planning for the future. 

They are readying to triumph different league rubric and the Champions League. What Andrea Berta has done this summertime is clear evidence of that. 

Last twelvemonth everyone said the aforesaid happening astir Liverpool. Look what happened. It is simply a risky crippled to play, but Arsenal are the firm favourites and I americium already convinced they will retain the title. 

The midfield was always the intriguing question, peculiarly during pre-season. Arsenal were not large during pre-season, peculiarly defensively, and determination was nary existent semblance of a first-choice midfield. 

Pre-season featured Lewis-Skelly, Havertz, and Nwaneri successful midfield, which with nary disrespect to immoderate of them is not comparable to what Odegaard and Tzolis showed against Man City successful the Community Shield. 

I would not beryllium amazed if Declan Rice is rested. Over the World Cup, you could spot helium was a subordinate who conscionable needed a agelong break. With Guimaraes, Zubimendi, Merino, and Lewis-Skelly, the midfield options are present acold much plentiful. 

Lewis-Skelly has really impressed in that role. I would not beryllium amazed if Rice is on the seat for this one, kept successful reserve for erstwhile the Champions League starts. 

The midfield trio should be very similar to what we saw successful Cardiff: Guimaraes, Odegaard, and Lewis-Skelly. Bukayo Saka will most apt come in implicit Noni Madueke. 

Tzolis over Martinelli is simply a given. There is besides the subplot of Victor Gyokeres facing his erstwhile club, having scored 43 goals for them. 

He did not commencement against Man City, though. Havertz started and got the 2nd goal. Donnarumma should person done amended for that. It was not the astir almighty header, but it showed that Havertz can operate effectively alongside Odegaard. 

There was besides a bully link-up with Tzolis for the assist. The lone alteration from Cardiff should beryllium Saka coming successful for Madueke. I americium assured Guimaraes volition start, and hopeful that Lewis-Skelly keeps that midfield spot arsenic well.