David Seaman names surprise team who could stop Arsenal winning Premier League

David Seaman has identified Arsenal’s most likely challengers to winning back-to-back Premier League titles.

The defending champions got their campaign underway on Friday night with a convincing 3-0 win over Coventry City.

Summer signing Christos Tzolis impressed on his home debut, while the likes of Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka and Ben White all rolled back the years, producing eye-catching displays that suggested they are over the injury issues that have plagued them all over the course of the last 18 months.

With Bruno Guimaraes and Ezri Konsa yet to make their competitive bows and Arsenal still chasing the signing of Julian Alvarez, the Gunners have the look of champions-elect already.

With significant question marks hanging over the majority of their rivals, Mikel Arteta’s side will take some stopping, especially with Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool under new management.

The Reds parted company with Arne Slot at the end of last season and replaced him with Andoni Iraola who masterminded Bournemouth’s qualification for Europe last term.

Liverpool have spent relatively modestly in the transfer market this summer, largely focusing their efforts on bolstering a defence that has lost both Andy Robertson and Ibrahima Konate.

Jeremy Jacquet and Ronald Araujo have arrived to help ease the burden on Virgil van Dijk, while Victor Munoz could represent a shrewd addition in attack.

Deals for PSG forwards Bradley Barcola and Ibrahima Mbaye are both in the pipeline and Seaman believes Liverpool, who face Newcastle on Sunday evening, could represent surprise challengers.

The Arsenal legend said: ‘We’ve not seen Liverpool yet with their new manager and their new signings.

‘I did think Man United were going to be a lot better than what I’ve seen today so that’s been disappointing.

‘The City result against Arsenal in the Community Shield that really disappointed me, so that threw me a little bit.

‘So I’m looking at Liverpool, I still think City will be strong, but I’m going for Liverpool.

‘We’re waiting to see what sort of system he plays. I just think Liverpool have got a bit more quality and quality in depth that will see them, hopefully, get second.’

Iraola, meanwhile, knows Alexander Isak will score goals but is working on the striker’s ability to create chances for team-mates.

The Sweden international has a pivotal role to play as the only available centre-forward with Hugo Ekitike still recovering from surgery on an Achilles tendon and Mohamed Salah having departed.

It is vital he remains fit as his own debut campaign at Anfield was marred by injury which restricted him to just 12 starts in 22 appearances with only four goals – only one of which came after breaking his leg at Tottenham just before Christmas.

Isak’s link-up with Florian Wirtz, restored to the number 10 position after being shunted around by former boss Arne Slot, is likely to be a significant factor but Iraola is keen for the Swede to have more all-round involvement.

‘Alex is going to be a very important player for us this season,’ he said.

‘Right now he is in a very good place; he has been training every day, he has not missed a session, he has been adding more and more minutes every friendly game.

‘He played a very good World Cup in terms of availability, fitness level, and I want to keep him there as much as we can.

‘We know his level and if we can keep him there he will score the goals and give us a lot of things.

‘Probably my fight with him, my instructions, are more in terms of without the ball and how he can help in his position when we are with the ball so he can open spaces for other players.

‘I am not trying to focus in terms of goals but he is a striker, he will want to score, but I try not to judge the strikers if they score or if they haven’t.’