Alan Shearer makes Arsenal title claim as Chelsea beat Brighton

Premier League legend Alan Shearer (Picture: BBC)

Alan Shearer has backed Arsenal to retain the Premier League trophy this season and says Chelsea will be their ‘closest challengers’.

Chelsea maintained their perfect start to the season with a 4-3 win over Brighton on Sunday .

The Blues, who beat Fulham 3-2 in their Premier League opener , raced into a 3-0 lead in the first half thanks to goals from Romeo Lavia, Pedro Neto and Joao Pedro.

Malick Yalcouye pulled a goal back for Brighton before the visitors scored again thanks to an unfortunate own goal from their former striker Pedro.

The momentum was with the Seagulls with half an hour remaining but Cole Palmer settled the Chelsea nerves with his second goal of the campaign.

Brighton scored a third deep into injury-time – Pascal Gross heading past new Chelsea No. 1 Emiliano Martinez – but the full-time whistle was blown seconds later.

The victory means Chelsea are one of only four teams to win both of their first two Premier League games, although defending champions Arsenal can join that group when they face Aston Villa on Monday night.

Chelsea beat Brighton at Stamford Bridge (Picture: Getty)

Shearer insists Arsenal are the ‘team to beat’ in the Premier League but has backed Chelsea to mount a title challenge under Xabi Alonso .

‘Arsenal have had a brilliant summer and they’re going to be flying this season,’ Shearer said on The Rest is Football . ‘Without doubt they are the team to beat again in the Premier League.’

Discussing Chelsea’s exciting start to the season, Shearer added to Betfair : ‘Cole Palmer was absolutely outstanding in Chelsea’s opening game.

New Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso (Picture: Getty)

‘We all knew the ability he has, but we didn’t quite see it as many times last season, whether it was injuries or whatever.

‘His start to the season and his performance was electric. The way he received the ball, how easy he made it look, how comfortable he was on the ball.

‘That was something for Chelsea fans to look forward to and for the rest of the league to fear.

Arsenal are the defending Premier League champions (Picture: Getty)

‘If Chelsea are going to have a good season, there’s no doubt that he in particular will be key to that.

‘I also think he’s got his good mate Morgan Rogers alongside him, incredible ability in Jooo Pedro. If those three can click, then they will cause serious problems for the rest of the league.

‘From personal experience, the best partnerships I’ve always worked with just clicked like that, no work needed. Whether it was Teddy Sheringham, Les Ferdinand, or Chris Sutton, those just happened like that.

‘Worryingly for the rest of the league, it looks as if those three have just clicked straight away.

‘It’s no surprise really because of the freedom that Rogers and Palmer will have, and then with the ability that Pedro has.

‘You’ve got three wonderful footballers there, three very technically gifted players in terms of how they receive the ball, whether it’s with their backs to goal, on the half turn, they’re three very technically gifted players.

‘Even before the ball was kicked for Chelsea, I had them in second position. No European football will be a bonus for them in terms of getting players right and not playing in midweek so many times.

‘So, for me, yes, I think Chelsea will be the closest challenge to Arsenal.’