Emmanuel Petit does not believe Arsenal can compete with Manchester City for the title despite their sensational start to the campaign.
The Gunners recorded their eighth win in nine games as they saw off Liverpool at the Emirates on Sunday. Their form has surprised many fans, with Mikel Arteta's young side getting the better of neighbours Tottenham the week before. All that has led to talk of the north Londoners being potential champions in the making.
That would be a huge leap for a side which finished fifth last season, although shrewd recruitment has seem them evolve massively over the summer. Petit, who won the league and cup double with Arsenal in 1998, still thinks that City will be too much for the Gunners as they target a third consecutive domestic crown.
He told Genting Casino : "Arsenal have started very well but there’s still a big gap between them and Man City for them to win the title. They showed last week against Spurs that they’ve improved so much and the fact they’re scoring goals so early shows their mentality and their motivation.
"It doesn’t matter which team they play against, they still show the same identity and personality. It was a great game against Liverpool as they had to score again and again and again. We all knew Liverpool were an injured beast, but they showed at least they’re still a big team and have big players. I felt it should have been a draw."
Bukayo Saka was Arsenal's match winner as he converted from the penalty spot - his second goal of the game. The result leaves the Gunners one point ahead of City, whom they are yet to play, with their forthcoming fixture against the champions postponed and yet to be rescheduled.
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Arteta's side have continued to defy the doubters but will face their sternest test when they take on Pep Guardiola's side. Their next three league games see them take on Leeds United, Southampton and Nottingham Forest.
The Arsenal boss has refused to entertain any title talk and maintains those at the Etihad, where he previously worked under Guardiola, continue to set the standard. Arteta said: "Manchester City and Liverpool are really strong. They've shown that for five years and we haven't done any of that."
The Spaniard added: "The feeling of winning is so powerful and so meaningful for me today for me, I saw a team I really identify with, the personality they show in difficult moments, how they stick to what they have to do but at the same time, the belief, the courage, and the free mind to just go for it and attack them and put them under pressure."
