Rio Ferdinand is supporting Arsenal to capture the Premier League title this season, potentially ending Manchester City’s streak of dominance in the top tier.
Pep Guardiola’s squad has clinched the last four Premier League titles, setting a new record as the first team to achieve this feat. They will be looking to make further history in the upcoming season.
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The Gunners finished second in the previous two seasons, coming close to unseating the Cityzens but falling short.
Ferdinand believes Mikel Arteta can lead Arsenal to the title this season, citing the impact of their sole summer signing as a significant factor.
Riccardo Calafiori, who joined from Bologna, has impressed Ferdinand to the extent that he believes Calafiori will be pivotal in making Arsenal champions.
“I think it’s hard to go against City because of how successful they’ve been over the last four seasons,” Ferdinand said on TNT Sports. “They’ve set a new benchmark, a new record of four in a row.
“But I just think Arsenal, Calafiori coming in on the left hand side, if he comes in and shores that area up…I think he’s a fantastic player, played at Bologna under Thiago Motta, he understands that type of football that Arteta wants to play.
“I think that was the area that was a slight weakness in the team; he gives them a bit of balance there and a bit of stability. So I’ll go maybe Arsenal to win it, but there’s got to be a hunger.”
Ferdinand also shared his predictions for the top four, expecting his former club Manchester United to return to the Champions League positions.
The ex-England defender foresees Arsenal finishing first, followed by Manchester City, Liverpool in third, and the Red Devils in fourth.
Arsenal will kick off their Premier League title bid on Saturday at home against Wolves, while Manchester City will visit Chelsea on Sunday.
Manchester United will start their season by hosting Fulham on Friday night, with Liverpool facing newly-promoted Ipswich Town on Saturday lunchtime.