'I'm a former Liverpool star but Arsenal are ready to win the Premier League this season'

Former Liverpool star Jason McAteer has admitted that he feels Arsenal have the upper hand in the race for the Premier League title this season.

The Reds have made a strong start to the campaign under Arne Slot , winning six of their opening seven games to lead the table at this early stage. A win over Crystal Palace before the international break consolidated their position at the summit, with a single loss against Nottingham Forest the only setback so far this term.

However, stern tests are to come for the Merseysiders before the end of the month, with clashes against Chelsea and Arsenal both in the diary for October. Now, former Liverpool ace McAteer has confessed that he feels that the Gunners may have the best chance of winning the championship next May.

For the ex-Republic of Ireland international, Mikel Arteta's side just have the edge when it comes to the strength of their squad, as well as their recent experiences of title chases. Addressing who he makes favorites at this stage, he told Gambling Zone : It’s a really tough question. If you’re looking for longevity in an answer, then Arsenal.

"I think at this moment in time, they’re really ready to win it. Last season and the season before, there was a question about mentality. Can they last the pace? Will injuries affect them? I think they’ve bought really well in the last three or four windows, to bolster the squad with quality.

As McAteer alludes to, the North Londoners have finished as runners-up in the last couple of campaigns, falling just two points short of champions Manchester City last term. For the ex-Reds midfielder, their strength in depth could prove the difference this time around, as he continued: "Now if they lose players of quality, they’ve got players who can step in.

"The perfect example is Martin Odegaard’s injury and Leandro Trossard stepping in. Trossard isn’t of the same quality as Odegaard, but he’s a very good player. They also have their new signing Mikel Merino coming into the team after he picked up an injury and he will add a bit more to that Arsenal midfield.

"People question Arsenal’s firepower. A lot of pundits were clamouring for them to sign a striker like Ivan Toney or Victor Osimhen this summer, but they chose not to do that," he asserted. "Perhaps Arteta didn’t think that either of them would have been a good fit for the culture he’s building at Arsenal.

"Havertz is having to step up to the plate, and he has done. When I look at their team and their development over the last few years, I feel they have the right mentality this season to go all the way."

Predicting that Manchester City and Liverpool will be the other two clubs in the title hunt at the business end of the season, he added: "I’m expecting a three-way title race between Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool. I don’t think there’s another team in the Premier League that is ready to challenge them yet."