talkSPORT pundit and former Liverpool forward Dean Saunders has now hailed Arsenal and Mikel Arteta, above the likes of Chelsea, Manchester United, and Tottenham Hotspur.
Arsenal will be heading into the new Premier League season full of confidence. Whilst they narrowly missed out on the title last time around, they cemented their reputation as a top team with a second successive push for the crown.
Many have now tipped Arsenal to win the Premier League this season. That will certainly be Mikel Arteta’s main objective.
Arsenal director Josh Kroenke is confident the title will be won, whilst former Aston Villa winger Gabby Agbonlahor has called Arteta’s side the favourites.
Of course, many will still have reigning champions Manchester City down as the team to beat, and whilst Liverpool are now something of an unknown quantity following the departure of Jurgen Klopp, the Reds can’t be ruled out.
As for the rest of the traditional ‘big six’, Manchester United, Chelsea, and Tottenham Hotspur, few would have them down as title contenders.
What sets Arsenal above Man United, Chelsea, and Tottenham?
Former Wales international Dean Saunders has now explained why Arsenal, Manchester City, and Liverpool are so far ahead of the rest in the Premier League.
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Speaking on talkSPORT, he said: “Arteta has got Arsenal, there’s no lazy players at Arsenal. There’s no lazy players at Man City. There’s no lazy players at Liverpool. That’s why they’re the top three.
“Start going down, there’s a few lazy players at Spurs. There’s a few at Man United, there’s a few at Chelsea. The Arsenal manager has got most of his lazy players out of the club.”
Mikel Arteta’s ruthlessness at Arsenal
Arteta has certainly been ruthless in his time as Arsenal boss. The Spanish coach has made big, and sometimes unpopular decisions, taking big name players out of his plans and out of the club.
The likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Mesut Ozil, and arguably even Aaron Ramsdale, thought he remains at the Emirates Stadium as a back up option, have fallen foul of the manager in this regard.
It would be harsh to call Ramsdale lazy, and perhaps the same could be said of Ozil and Aubameyang, but in each case they no longer fit the style Arteta wanted and the manager didn’t hesitate to act. In each case, his decision has ultimately been vindicated.
Per Guardiola, and Klopp prior to his Anfield exit, share this ruthless streak.