The Premier League season is well and truly under way and games are coming thick and fast for the teams in European competition. The Champions League and Europa League start in earnest next midweek and a packed schedule because of the World Cup in Qatar this winter is already in full flow.
Arsenal sit proudly atop the Premier League five games in, the only team to have a 100% record at this stage. It is a far cry from their start to last season, when they lost the opening three games on the spin, scoring none and conceding nine.
There is some familiarity to the chasing pack, with Manchester City in behind them and rivals Tottenham not far behind that, with Manchester United and Liverpool also creeping up after slow starts.
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Predictions are made before a ball is even kicked and then throughout the season too. So will Arsenal manage to keep the run going and challenge for the title? That would seem early in the club's transition phase, but the top four is a distinct possibility after last year's heartbreak of missing out to Spurs.
Liverpool legend John Barnes believes Arsenal will battle it out for the Champions League places come the end of this season, but believes Tottenham will once again pip them in the Premier League standings.
Spurs have started the campaign steadily, winning three and drawing two of their five games so far. They have been far from their best in those games, but have picked up points despite not playing well, which is a trait that has not often been seen in Spurs sides and indicative of the work Antonio Conte has done.
Speaking to BonusCodeBets, Barnes said: "Man City and Liverpool are going to be the top two again then after them will be Tottenham. Then Arsenal and Chelsea; Arsenal are doing really well at this moment in time but of course, they've still got a young side and if they go through a bit of a sticky patch, the young players probably need a bit more experience.
"While they're doing well now, it will be between them and Chelsea for the fourth spot but I think the top three will be Man City and Liverpool or Liverpool and Man City then Tottenham."
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