Frank Leboeuf’s verdict on the Premier League title race is not complicated. Arsenal.
The 1998 World Cup winner told ESPN that the champions carry a stability their rivals do not, and that Mikel Arteta’s squad is settled enough to defend the trophy they lifted in May.
“The reason is clearly because the others, they don’t know where they go,” Leboeuf said.
“Arsenal have some assurances and they know that with the team they have right now they can be better anybody else.”
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Arsenal ended a 22-year Premier League drought in May, confirmed as champions after Manchester City drew 1-1 at Bournemouth. It was Arsenal’s 14th English top-flight title and their first since Arsène Wenger’s Invincibles.
The Saliba caveat
The endorsement is not without worry. William Saliba is out for an extended period after a back injury sustained at the World Cup, where the France defender was substituted in the first-half of the semi-final defeat to Spain on 14 July.
Arsenal have said surgery is not recommended and that Saliba will now begin a managed recovery programme. He is expected to miss the opening fixture at home to promoted Coventry City on 21 August.
Leboeuf did not pretend it was a small problem.
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“The biggest question is for William Saliba. It’s a good thing that Piero Hincapie signed a contract and Cristhian Mosquera can play in that position, but nobody can replace Saliba.”
Hincapie arrived on a season-long loan from Bayer Leverkusen, while Mosquera joined last summer from Valencia.
The Bruno question
The bigger squad news arrived last week, when Arsenal confirmed the £75m signing of Bruno Guimarães from Newcastle. The 28-year-old has agreed a four-year contract with an option for a further year and will wear the number 39 shirt.
“We don’t know what Bruno Guimarães can bring, whether he will play alongside Declan Rice or not or what is going to be Mikel Arteta’s decision.”
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“When you have Gabriel Magalhães and Saliba you are strong, you know that you are stronger than anybody else and that’s what it is.”
“Can they now double up and win the Premier League? Yes, they are the favourites for me, but they will have to show it.”
Arsenal open their title defence against Coventry on Friday, 21 August.
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