Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink believes Manchester City aren't as strong this campaign - boosting Arsenal's hopes of winning the title.
City lifted the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup last season to complete a memorable treble. Arsenal led the title race for much of that campaign but stumbled during the run-in to finish five points behind Pep Guardiola's side.
Yet City may struggle to replicate that feat after losing captain Ilkay Gundogan and winger Riyad Mahrez, who have joined Barcelona and Saudi side Al-Ahli respectively. City have responded by signing Mateo Kovacic from Chelsea and Josko Gvardiol from RB Leipzig, but Hasselbaink thinks Arsenal might just pip them to the post this year.
Hasselbaink spoke to Mirror Football before last weekend’s Premier League fixtures as an ambassador for LiveScore's Life-changing Goals campaign, which will see a £25 charity donation for every goal scored in the world’s top 25 leagues, as well as those scored at grassroots level shared on social media with #LiveScore25.
"It's going to be an interesting year. I don't think Manchester City will be as strong as they were. They are still the team to beat, but I think Arsenal will be closer - and Liverpool will be closer and Manchester United. I think Manchester United have bought really, really well. You can see how Manchester United are playing that they have got a very good manager and they are getting stronger. Chelsea are in a project, they need a little bit of time.
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"There's always one or maybe two teams that don't always do what they think they will do at the beginning of the season. I think Spurs are going to have a difficult time with (Harry Kane) going but that is just normal. Who's going to take his spot?
"It has to be a whole team effort because you're not going to find a striker who's going to do the things that Kane could do... that's not going to be easy."
City have made a slow start to the new season by their ridiculously high standards. Although they thumped Burnley 3-0 on the opening day, they only managed a narrow 1-0 home win against Newcastle in their last outing. They also lost the Community Shield to Arsenal, while they needed penalties to beat Sevilla in the European Super Cup.
Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink is an ambassador for LiveScore's Life-changing Goals campaign (LiveScore)Do you agree with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink? Let us know in the comments below!
Winning this season's Premier League title would be historic for City, as no team in the history of the English game has ever won four consecutive league titles. Man Utd (1999-2001, 2007-2009), Liverpool (1982-1984), Arsenal (1933-1935), Huddersfield (1924-1926) and of course, City (2021-2023) are the five clubs to achieve the so-called three-peat.
Arsenal, meanwhile, have strengthened. They've signed Kai Havertz from Chelsea, Declan Rice from West Ham, David Raya from Brentford and Jurrien Timber from Ajax (although the latter has suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury).
Hasselbaink has told Arsenal they need to achieve a peerless season to end their 20-year wait for a Premier League title. "I can't see Man City being third or fourth... and if you're going to win it, you have to be so consistent. You have to be as consistent as Arsenal were in the first part of last year but over a whole year."
To get involved with LiveScore’s Life-changing Goals campaign, head to LiveScore’s official social media channels to find out how you can share your goal with #LiveScore25 and #LifeChangingGoals.
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