Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker both believe Arsenal will fall just short in their bid for the Premier League title this season — though Micah Richards thinks the signing of Viktor Gyökeres could be a game-changer.
The Gunners head into the new campaign determined to finally end their run of three straight second-place finishes under Mikel Arteta. This summer, Arteta — working alongside sporting director Andrea Berta — has brought in six new faces to strengthen the squad, with the aim of going one better this time around.
Among them, Gyökeres stands out as the marquee arrival. Signed from Sporting Lisbon, the Swedish striker has already hit the ground running, scoring in a pre-season friendly and giving fans a glimpse of his goalscoring potential.
But on The Rest Is Football podcast, Shearer was cautious about Arsenal’s chances.
“I think they’ll challenge, but I believe they may fall short again,” he said. “I like their signings, and they’ve clearly addressed some needs. I still suspect they might not be done in the market — there could be more ins and outs. I’ve got them finishing in the Champions League places, but I just don’t see quite enough to win the title.”
Lineker agreed, pointing to the competition Arsenal will face.
“I’d likely go along with that,” he said. “Liverpool’s new signings really change the picture. A lot will depend on how Gyökeres settles in. He scored a lovely goal in pre-season, which will do his confidence good, but we know friendlies aren’t the same as competitive matches. I think they’ll push close again, but probably just miss out.”
Richards also predicted a title race without Arsenal on top, but he was full of praise for the Gyökeres signing.
“It’s a massive step for Arsenal,” Richards said. “His movement is top class, and that’s crucial for a striker. Havertz has qualities, and we like him, but he’s more of a creator than a natural goalscorer. Gyökeres gives them something extra. Whether that’s enough to win the league… I’m not convinced. One or two injuries could set them back again.”
The consensus from all three? Arsenal will be in the mix, but Manchester City and a strengthened Liverpool may once again keep them from lifting the trophy.
