Manchester City icon Sergio Aguero has backed Arsenal and Manchester United to challenge for next season's Premier League title.
The Gunners led the title race for the majority of the 2022/23 campaign, enjoying a hugely impressive first half of the season - clinching 50 points from their first 19 league fixtures. However, their form took a huge dip after defender William Saliba picked up a lower back injury, accruing just 34 points from their final 19 matches, finishing five points behind eventual champions City.
But Aguero has backed Mikel Arteta's side, along with Erik ten Hag's United, to come back firing next term as the Citizens' closest rivals. "City will continue to be a candidate next season," the Argentine told Stake.
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"It has been shown that it is the best team in the Premier League, with a very clear style of play, which has won three consecutive titles, something difficult to achieve. Why not think then that you can get another?
"Surely, as he does every season, Pep will continue to make the adjustments he deems necessary to remain competitive. But this is the Premier League and it is football, there will be several teams that try to dethrone them.
"I think that Arsenal has established a very important base of young players with a long way to go. Mikel Arteta will try to reinforce his lines and will be one of the rivals to beat next season.
"We must not forget about Manchester United either, who have returned to their competitive spirit and will be one of those who most want to defeat City." But United legend Gary Neville isn't as convinced on Arsenal's chances, backing Liverpool as City's biggest rivals instead.
"You have to have a great manager and a great group of players to do what City have done and the other clubs have got to aspire to that," Neville told Sky Sports when asked who is best placed to challenge the Citizens during the 2023/24 campaign.
"At this moment, the one team which has proved that [it can challenge City] over the past five or six years are Liverpool. Arsenal have run City close this year but the only team which l can say at the moment has demonstrated they can go close to Pep Guardiola's City are Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool.
"I know they have dropped well below those standards this season but [they can] get back to those standards next season because they have proven they can do that before."
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