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Arsenal can win the Premier League title this season if they keep five players mostly free from injury. Mikel Arteta’s side fell at the final hurdle last term but have now made the necessary improvements and squad additions to go one better in 2024.<\/p>\n
Arsenal overcame a massive hurdle at the Emirates on Sunday. After 15 top-flight games without a win over Manchester City, they finally toppled Pep Guardiola’s side.<\/p>\n
There had been a mental block against City, and in most cases a clear gulf in class, but the gap between the two teams is now closer than it’s been for over a decade. City are still the team to beat but Arsenal will be better for the heartache they suffered in May.<\/p>\n
Arsenal came from nowhere last season to mount a title challenge. It is very rare for a team who haven’t been in a title race before to triumph straight away.<\/p>\n
Liverpool fell just one point short in 2019, with a 97-point tally not enough to finish above City. But Jurgen Klopp’s side came back a year later to take advantage of a below-par season for the defending champions.<\/p>\n
Read more… <\/strong> Man Utd investors ‘have takeover theory’ as Glazer family make unusual move<\/strong><\/p>\n Arsenal may well need City to be below their usual standards again for them to clinch top spot. The early signs are that could be the case, although Guardiola’s team have a tendency to turn it on in the second half of seasons.<\/p>\n In any case, Arsenal have a quintet of stars who they must keep fit. William Saliba and Gabriel have built a fantastic partnership at the back, arguably the best the Gunners have had since moving to the Emirates in 2006.<\/p>\n Saliba’s injury last season was pivotal. Arteta was unable to replace him like-for-like and his calmness and maturity at such a young age was missed.<\/p>\n No Arsenal player in Premier League history with 10 or more appearances has a better win percentage than Saliba. His partner Gabriel has also shown how bizarre Arteta’s decision was to leave him out of the first couple of games.<\/p>\n Arsenal have Jakub Kiwior, Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu who can fill in centrally. But there is a clear drop-off from their first-choice duo if they do.<\/p>\n We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info<\/p>\n Don’t miss… <\/strong> Declan Rice also showed on Sunday why Arsenal spent \u00a3105million on him in the summer. He could be the point of difference for the Gunners this season.<\/p>\n He would have had a tougher afternoon had Rodri been available. But Arsenal took advantage of the Spaniard’s absence and Rice took the game by the scruff of the neck, especially in the second half.<\/p>\n His captain Martin Odegaard perhaps had a quieter match on the ball than fans have become accustomed to of late. However, the Norwegian was often the first man to press the City backline and he ran himself into the ground.<\/p>\n Odegaard’s goalscoring record as a midfielder since the start of last season is remarkable and Arsenal haven’t got anyone to replace him. The same could be said about Bukayo Saka, even if the Gunners won without him on Sunday.<\/p>\n Arsenal need him back fit following the end of his remarkable 87-game run in the Premier League. If Arteta can keep those five players largely off the treatment table, Arsenal could be celebrating a title win exactly 20 years after their Invincibles triumph.<\/p>\nMikel Arteta reviews the Man City game<\/h3>\n
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Man Utd staff angry with Marcus Rashford were warned by club icon a year ago[QUOTES] <\/strong><\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/67\/590x\/secondary\/Arsenal-news-Mikel-Arteta-Premier-League-5001437.jpg?r=1696834412647\")
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