After three successive runners-up finishes, and two decades of waiting, Arsenal have finally ended their long wait for a Premier League title, securing the trophy when Manchester City dropped points to Bournemouth in midweek.
The Gunners threatened to let it slip down the home straight, recovering from a 2-1 defeat to City with four straight wins to get over the line, and with a Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain on the horizon next week, the season could get even better.
But football moves quickly, and attention is already turning to what next season might look like. Arteta will be attempting to do something Arsenal have never done before, defend a Premier League title, and the question of who’ll push them hardest is already being asked.
Michael Owen had a clear answer when speaking to Metro, and it points firmly in the direction of Manchester.
"I think a challenge next season is only going to come from Manchester."
"I think Man City will be strong, even if Pep leaves, they ran Arsenal very close this season and have a good group of young players who have shown will be in a title race next season and with two domestic cups, they will come back stronger."
Manchester United Back In The Mix
Michael Carrick
Perhaps the more eyebrow-raising element of Owen's prediction is his inclusion of Manchester United as genuine title contenders. Indeed, he snubbed former club Liverpool to back Arsenal, Man City and the Red Devils as his three contenders for 2026/27.
United have already locked down a third-place finish under the now permanently appointed Michael Carrick, who took charge following the departure of Ruben Amorim earlier in the campaign.
"It’s been a while but Manchester United can be a title contender under Michael Carrick. You look at their form since he arrived and it’s definitely one of a title contender."
Liverpool, meanwhile, are notably absent from Owen's shortlist of challengers, with the former Reds striker suggesting Arne Slot's side still have work to do before they can be considered title material once more:
"Liverpool will hope to challenge, but they need to get everything right to do so and I’m not sure they are there just yet."
Manchester City's Summer Of Transition
Pep Guardiola and Enzo Maresca | Man City
The backdrop to Owen's prediction about City is significant. Pep Guardiola has confirmed he’ll be leaving the club this summer after ten hugely successful years at the Etihad, bringing an end to a reign that’s yielded over 20 major trophies. Former Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca is the frontrunner to replace him, with the Italian reportedly keen to make Enzo Fernandez his first major signing of the summer.
Whether City can maintain their standards through such a significant transition remains the central question heading into next season. Owen believes they can.
Pep Guardiola celebrating at his first Man City match Related
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He now lives a very different life away from football.
Arsenal, on the evidence of what they’ve just achieved, will certainly have something to say about that though.