Arsenal icon Paul Merson has backed his former side ahead of Tottenham and Manchester United this season, believing they are more capable of a top-four finish in the Premier League. It comes after a blistering start to life this season for the Gunners, who currently sit top of the Premier League.
Victory over Brentford on Saturday will confirm the club's status as league leaders heading into the international break, giving Mikel Arteta time to plan the next stint in a busy and unusual campaign. It's seen the side avoid suffering a hangover from last season, where they narrowly missed out on the top four.
Instead, a busy summer transfer window saw them look to bolster their ranks in the hope of making that return to the Champions League. While early signs are promising, Arteta has been quick to try and keep things grounded at the club: "You're not going to hear it [title contenders] from me. It's the next game, the next training session. We go day-by-day.
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"But it's a very different problem from this time last year [defeat in all of their opening three] - I prefer this problem, that's for sure.
"We need to maintain the cohesion of the team, the belief in the team that everybody is able to contribute. I keep the standards high and keep the demands even higher and make sure everybody is at it every single day."
While there is a long road ahead, the early signs are promising from a side that appears closer to the vision set out by the manager. However, those signs appear to have been enough to sway a decision from Merson, who now believes the Gunners have a better chance of finishing in the top four over their rivals.
Speaking to Sportskeeda, he claimed: "Judging by how the current campaign has unfolded, I think Arsenal will make it [top four] ahead of Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United, but a lot could change between now and the end of the season."
With a huge north London derby coming up after the international break, it could sway how things play out this season, just like the last. However, the uniqueness of the campaign could provide even more twists and turns than even the previous campaign could handle.
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