Two teams ruled out of title race by former Man Utd and Arsenal defender Mikael Silvestre

Former Man Utd and Arsenal defender Mikael Silvestre (Picture: Getty)

Former Manchester United and Arsenal defender Mikael Silvestre believes only three teams are capable of winning the Premier League this season.

Mikel Arteta is preparing for Arsenal’s title defence after the Gunners won the Premier League for the first time since 2004 last season.

Arsenal were involved in another tense title race with Manchester City but ended up winning the Premier League by seven points.

Man City will expect to challenge once again as the most dominant team in English football over the last decade, but it remains to be seen whether Enzo Maresca can successfully replace legendary manager Pep Guardiola.

Manchester United recovered from a poor first-half to the season to climb to third once Michael Carrick replaced Ruben Amorim in the Old Trafford hot-seat.

Unai Emery’s Aston Villa secured fourth ahead of defending champions Liverpool, who finished 25 points behind Arsenal despite a stunning spending spree last summer and decided to sack Arne Slot in the summer.

Silvestre knows what it takes to win the Premier League, having played a part in four Manchester United title triumphs under Sir Alex Ferguson.

Arsenal won the Premier League last season (Picture: Getty)

The former France international insists it will be ‘tough’ for Arsenal to retain their Premier League trophy but views Manchester City and Liverpool as the only two ‘realistic’ contenders outside of the reigning champions.

Asked how he believes Arsenal will fare during their title defence, Silvestre told Grosvenor Sport: ‘It might seem like an easy job but you have to manage all the egos and keep everybody happy.

‘The players should understand that there is no rest. You must keep improving the team and the squad.

New Manchester City boss Enzo Maresca (Picture: Getty)

‘Mikel Arteta has already shown that he can compete with the very best. Right now he’s the best manager in the Premier League based on last season.

‘The challenge now is to remain in that position as number one and that’s tough in the Premier League.

‘There will be so much competition from Manchester City and Liverpool this season although at the moment they are the only two teams that are ready to compete for the title, realistically.’

Manchester United impressed under Michael Carrick (Picture: Getty)

Silvestre’s former Manchester United teammate Patrice Evra believes the Red Devils can continue to ‘rebuild’ and ‘compete’ for major honours once again.

‘Manchester United should never believe they are too far away,’ Evra told Stake. ‘This club was not built to accept second place. But belief without action is just talking.

‘You don’t become champions because you say the right sentence in an interview. You become champions because you work every day, build the right habits and perform when the pressure is highest.

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‘If Arsenal can rebuild and compete again, of course United can. But now United have to prove it on the pitch.

‘When you are Manchester United, you don’t start the season dreaming about finishing fourth. Come on. That is not the standard Sir Alex Ferguson built into the club.

‘Of course you have to be realistic because the Premier League is tough. But the ambition has to be trophies. If top-four becomes the dream, then we have a problem.

‘Top-four can be a step. It can be a consequence of progress. But it should never be the limit of Manchester United.