Arsenal have strengthened while their rivals have gone backwards

With a week to go until the Premier League season starts, across the country fans and pundits are making predictions about the campaign ahead.

And whether you’re using online football betting in UK to take a punt or just debating with your friends, the conclusions are likely to be the same: Arsenal are favourites to win the title. After decades without a title, they look ready to win two in a row.

What signs are there pointing to more Gunners’ success? Firstly, they’ve strengthened pretty significantly. They already had a very solid defence, and plenty of depth in the squad. They are rock solid, have a group that’s been together for a long time, they are physically excellent and strong at set pieces.

Last season, there were moments where they could have run away with the league. The only thing they lacked was a bit of attacking spark at times, and some more creativity in midfield when Martin Odegaard isn’t playing well. In Bruno Guimaraes and Christos Tzolis they’ve immediately upgraded in both areas.

Then there’s the other factor -the other teams in the league and where they stand.

It’s important not to read too much into the Community Shield, and we all try to remind ourselves it doesn’t mean much in the grand scheme of things. But it leaves a big impression as the first competitive action of the season, and in this case it really illustrated the difference between Arsenal and the team who should be their main competition for the title.

Man City have just lost a great manager, and they’re bound to struggle to find their usual intensity and consistency in the early days of Enzo Maresca’s reign. They looked pretty lifeless as Mikel Arteta’s team brushed them aside 3-0 at Wembley yesterday. Even if Maresca does well there, the post-Pep hangover is going to take a huge amount of effort to overcome.

As for the rest of the contenders – Chelsea and Liverpool have new managers and continue to look like major works in progress. They won’t have the consistency to challenge. Man U have had Michael Carrick a while longer, but still look to be in the building phase rather than the challenging phase.

Spurs and Aston Villa can beat anyone on their day – but don’t have the depth for a title charge.

The path is very open for Arsenal to get better this year, while everyone else is still finding their feet.