After three consecutive seasons in second place, Arsenal finally touched their first Premier League title since the 2003/04 season. The Emirates Stadium team even stands before the opportunity to complete a historic season if they defeat Paris Saint-Germain in the upcoming Champions League final.
However, former striker Michael Owen believes that defending the throne will not be easy for Arsenal. According to him, only two teams are capable of directly competing with Arteta's team next season: Manchester City and Manchester United.
I think the biggest challenge next season will only come from Manchester.
The former English legend highly appreciates Man City's ability to return, despite Pep Guardiola preparing to leave the Etihad after this season. He continued: "I think Man City will be very strong even if Pep leaves.
They have been chasing Arsenal very closely this season and possess a group of talented young players. They have proven that they are capable of competing for the championship next season and with two domestic cup titles, they will return stronger”.
Besides Man City, Owen especially expects a transformation of Manchester United under Michael Carrick: "It's been a long time, but Manchester United can completely compete for the championship under Michael Carrick. Looking at their performance since he came, they are definitely a bright candidate.
Carrick was officially appointed head coach on May 23 after an impressive period since replacing Ruben Amorim in January. Manchester United won 36 points under the former English midfielder, the best Premier League record in the same period.
“Manchester United may be a potential candidate for the championship. From being in the bottom half of the table under Amorim, Carrick helped the team finish the season in third place. They still have a lot of potential to improve and compete seriously for the championship,” Owen emphasized.
Meanwhile, Owen is cautious about Liverpool's ability to compete: "Liverpool hopes to compete for the championship, but they need to do everything perfectly to achieve it and I'm not sure they are ready.
