Former England internationals Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer have expressed doubts over Arsenal’s chances of winning the Premier League this season, predicting the North London side will once again fall short in the title race.
The Gunners, under manager Mikel Arteta, have finished as runners-up for three consecutive campaigns, pushing Manchester City close but failing to end their two-decade wait for the league crown. Determined to go one better, Arsenal have invested heavily during the summer transfer window, adding several high-profile signings to strengthen the squad.
Swedish striker Viktor Gyokeres, signed from Sporting CP, headlines the arrivals, with his prolific scoring record expected to add a new dimension to Arsenal’s attack. The club has also secured the services of Spanish midfielder Martin Zubimendi, winger Noni Madueke, defender Cristhian Mosquera, and midfielder Christian Norgaard, aiming to improve depth across all areas of the pitch.
Despite these reinforcements, Shearer and Lineker remain unconvinced the changes will be enough to overhaul Manchester City or other challengers. Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, Micah Richards, a fellow pundit and former England international, echoed their caution.
“I still don’t know if it’s enough to get them over the line,” Richards said. “One or two injuries and they’re back to the same as last season. So I’m going to say challenging, but not champions.”
The new Premier League season kicks off later this month, with Arsenal opening their campaign at home, hoping to build early momentum. However, the views of Lineker, Shearer, and Richards underline the widespread belief that Arteta’s side still have a major hurdle to clear if they are to finally reclaim the top spot.
