Ex-Arsenal forward Andrey Arshavin believes the Gunners can win the Premier League title this season.
Despite their 1-0 defeat to Manchester United before the international break, Arsenal still sit top of the table after 11 games played, two points clear of Liverpool.
And Arshavin, now back at Zenit, maintains the loss to United won’t affect Arsenal’s confidence and reckons they have come along way in the past two-three years.
The little Russian said:
‘Arsenal are playing much better than they have over the last two or three years.
‘I was surprised that they won so comfortably against Liverpool, because they too are in excellent form right now.’
Arshavin returned to Zenit after leaving the Emirates at the end of last season on a free.
Needless to say, the former Russia captain endured a topsy-turvy time at Arsenal following a then club record fee from Zenit in 2009, with his four goals against Liverpool being his most memorable highlight at the north London club. But towards the end of his Arsenal career, Arshavin found himself spending most of his time on the bench and becoming a bit-part player under Wenger.
Why does Arshavin think Arsenal can win the title this season? Well he thinks the summer signing of Mesut Ozil from Real Madrid could be the deciding factor this time around, claiming the German has brought ‘stability to the side’:
‘The signing of Ozil has brought stability to the side and now this season Arsenal have a real chance to finish in first place.’
If we manage to add to the right areas of the squad this winter, keep our star players fit and maintain our current form, then I don’t see any reason why we can’t lift the Premier League trophy this season.
It’s still early days though and I think we can only label ourselves as serious title contenders if we are there or thereabouts after the hectic Christmas period.
