Very few are backing Arsenal to end their Premier League trophy drought as they attempt to recover from their worst ever finish under Arsene Wenger.The Gunners finished fifth last season, meaning they have to settle for Europa League football this time around.And following a summer in which both Manchester clubs have both spent excessively, it’s hard to see Arsenal challenging for the title.Arsenal aren’t in a worse position than they were a couple of months ago. They’ve managed to keep hold of Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil and have signed Sead Kolasinac and Alexandre Lacazette, both of whom are set to play an important role for the north London side.But Manchester City and Manchester United both appear strong on paper and Chelsea have also spent huge sums.And, while Wenger beat the boo-boys to sign a new two-year contract extension in the summer, Robbie Savage is expecting another difficult season for the Arsenal manager.“Alexandre Lacazette will add firepower, but things could get worse for Wenger before they get better if he loses Alexis Sanchez,” Savage wrote for the Mirror.“How on earth was such an influential player allowed to reach the final year of his contract without the club busting a gut to keep him?
“Le Professeur rode out the storm last season but I suspect he is facing another year outside the mainstream.”
Ian Wright's Arsenal bet
Yet one person who remains optimistic about the upcoming season is Arsenal legend Ian Wright.
Wright posted a picture on Twitter of a tweet he received from Sun Bets which featured a bet on Arsenal to beat Leicester City on Friday and the Gunners to win the title.
Wright was presented with odds of 20/1. He wrote: “Not bad odds I think 🤔”.
Fans react
Unsurprisingly, fans have responded to Wright by laughing at the idea of Arsenal winning the Premier League.
Sanchez won't play vs Leicester
The excitement at the Emirates Stadium sparked by the return of competitive football is tempered by the fact that Sanchez won’t be playing against Leicester on Friday.
“He had a little abdominal strain that he caught on Sunday morning in training, before he came to Wembley [for the Community Shield],” Wenger confirmed, via the Evening Standard.
"He had a scan two days ago and he’s out for a while - I don’t know is it two weeks or one more week, but he will not be available.
“For us Alexis Sanchez is a loss, of course. But we have all the other players prepared in pre-season and they are all ready.
“It can happen in pre-season and anyway, I don’t think I would have included him on Friday night. I don’t think I would have started him.”