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Arsenal crowned favourites before they’ve even finished polishing their trophy cabinet
Liverpool’s defence of their Premier League crown has barely begun, and already Mohamed Salah has kicked off the drama like it’s a Netflix pilot episode. As opening weeks go, this one’s already thick with narratives, memes, and enough subplots to keep Gary Neville busy on commentary.
Salah, freshly polishing his third PFA Player of the Year award, decided to throw Arsenal under the world’s biggest spotlight, declaring them ‘favourites’ for the title. Yes, the Arsenal who’ve finished second more times than a reality TV runner-up , are actually the favourites this season. Arsenal supporters probably printed it on a banner within minutes, but make no mistake, this was the classic mind games move. Delivered with a grin, Salah’s verdict wasn’t about praise; it was about pressure.
Salah knows Arsenal have bottled second place so many times they could sponsor Coca-Cola, and with Arteta’s side supposedly ‘the most settled squad,’ the excuses have run out. Add Liverpool’s summer shopping spree, Man City’s lurking menace, and Arsenal’s stuttering opener at Old Trafford, and this season already looks like it’s heading for chaos. Somewhere in the middle of this, Salah has made sure his words echo louder than Arsenal’s goal tally.
Arsenal’s settled squad and the bottle factory problem
Mikel Arteta’s side are officially out of excuses. Bukayo Saka, Martin Ødegaard, Declan Rice, William Saliba, Gabriel, Ben White, the core has been together long enough to qualify for council tax benefits. Three consecutive runners-up finishes later, and still no major trophy to show for it. Now, Arsenal must prove they’re more than just the perennial ‘nearly-men.’ Add Viktor Gyökeres to the equation, and you’ve got a shiny new #14 who endured a brutal debut against Matthijs de Ligt, losing their personal duel about 70/30.
But tonight against Leeds, the script is easier: a newly promoted side at the Emirates, the perfect chance for Gyökeres to finally hit the target instead of the bench. Arsenal fans, meanwhile, have had an exhausting week: scraping a 1-0 set-piece win at Old Trafford, losing Kai Havertz to a potential long-term knee injury, and then pulling off what they’re calling ‘the biggest heist since Seth Rollins cashed in Money in the Bank’ by nicking Eberechi Eze from under Spurs’ nose. Arsenal Twitter is already unbearable, and Salah, cheeky as ever, has poured petrol on that fire by reminding them: if not now, when?
Liverpool reinforce like it’s career mode
For all the talk about Arsenal, Liverpool are still the actual defending champions, and Salah knows that too. Arne Slot’s men opened with a lively 4-2 win, the kind of chaotic game that screams ‘Champions with heart issues incoming.’ They went into this season as the bookies’ favourites, thanks in no small part to clever signings like Florian Wirtz. Rumours keep swirling that Alexander Isak might also arrive from Newcastle, and if that happens, Anfield’s attack will look like something straight out of FIFA Ultimate Team, Salah, Núñez, Díaz, Isak, Jota, Wirtz.
Pick your poison. But with strength comes suffocating pressure, and Slot’s main challenge is to keep his squad from collapsing under the weight of their own hype. They’ve ‘reinforced from a position of strength,’ the golden rule of champions, but history shows defending a crown is harder than winning it. Salah, by shifting attention to Arsenal, has bought Liverpool some breathing space. But make no mistake, this squad will be judged by one thing: whether they can dodge the dreaded ‘second-season curse’ and keep the title at Anfield when the dust settles.
City’s horror movie sequel: Erling Haaland returns
Just when people thought City were wobbling after a ‘poor’ 2024/25 season (where poor still means terrifying), Erling Haaland reappears like the villain in a horror franchise, big, blonde and smashing goals for fun. His performance against Wolves last weekend was so dominant it looked like he was bullying schoolkids in the playground. Add new signing Tijjani Reijnders pulling strings, and Pep’s machine is already purring again.
Salah may be busy trolling Arsenal, but deep down he knows City are the real threat. Pep Guardiola doesn’t rebuild; he reloads, sometimes turning midfielders into full-backs and full-backs into attacking midfielders just because he can. The danger with City isn’t just Haaland’s goals; it’s their knack for peaking right when everyone else is falling apart. Arsenal might be labelled favourites, Liverpool may be hyped, but City are lurking like a shadow ready to ruin everyone’s springtime. If this season’s title race is a three-way cage fight, City are the monster nobody wants to face in the dark alley, and Salah’s comments won’t have rattled them one bit.
Arsenal vs. Liverpool: The first real test
Gameweek three is already being circled in bold red marker: Arsenal vs Liverpool at the Emirates. Forget the clichés, this is where Salah’s mind games get their first report card. Arsenal scraped past United with a scrappy set-piece, Liverpool showed attacking flair but defensive wobble, and City swatted their opponents aside like flies.
Now, it’s clash time. For Arsenal, it’s a chance to show Salah wasn’t just trolling, that they can genuinely handle the pressure of being labelled favourites. For Liverpool, it’s the opportunity to remind everyone they’re the reigning kings, not pretenders. Whoever wins, memes will flood the internet; whoever loses, the fraud shouts will come loud and fast; and if it’s a draw, we’ll all just laugh at the wasted hype. Leeds, meanwhile, arrive at the Emirates after a dramatic penalty win over Everton, brimming with confidence but probably too smart to try and outgun Arteta’s side. For Viktor Gyökeres, it’s a golden chance to get his first Arsenal goal and lift the weight already settling on his shoulders. But make no mistake: the real theatre is Salah vs Arsenal, and every pass, miss, and smirk will be dissected.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Salah knows Arsenal have been nearly-men for three years straight. By labelling them ‘favourites,’ he’s shifting pressure away from Liverpool and onto Mikel Arteta’s squad, classic mind games from a player who’s been here before.
On paper, yes. Their core, Saka, Ødegaard, Rice, Saliba, Gabriel, White, has been together for years, making them the most ‘settled’ squad in the top three. But with three straight 2nd-place finishes, the pressure to finally deliver silverware is heavier than ever.
Liverpool are the reigning champions and strengthened in the summer with Florian Wirtz (and maybe Alexander Isak). City, meanwhile, have Haaland back in destroyer mode and Pep Guardiola reloading his machine. Arsenal might be “favourites” in name, but both rivals are lurking.
Everything, and nothing. It’s too early to be decisive, but a win for either side will send a statement to the rest of the league. It’s also the first test of whether Salah’s comments were prophecy or pure trolling.
Arsenal: Viktor Gyökeres, looking for his first goal to justify the hype.
Liverpool: Florian Wirtz, already shaping up as a game-changer.
City: Erling Haaland, because stopping him feels impossible.
Leeds: Their fearless attack, ready to test Arsenal at the Emirates.
