Manchester City icon Sergio Aguero has backed Arsenal to be this year's surprise package in the Premier League - and he even believes that Mikel Arteta's side are "dark horses" for the title after their sterling work in the transfer market.
The Gunners have once again splashed the cash after falling short of a Champions League place in the final weeks of last season. Arteta has since shelled out a combined £77million to prise Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko away from City and has also sanctioned a £34m deal for Fabio Vieira.
That trio, along with fellow summer recruits Matt Turner and Marquinhos, should allow Arsenal to kick on in their attempts to finally end their agonising exile from Europe's elite competition - but Aguero believes they could go one better than that and emerge as surprise title contenders.
Speaking to Stake.Com, Aguero lauded the Gunners work in the transfer market and claimed: “Arsenal are dark horses for the title after their transfer business, but Man City and Liverpool are clearly favourites.
“As always, I believe that the Premier League will show this season that it is beginning to be one of the most competitive leagues in the world. And in this sense, my candidates are Manchester City, which I think can repeat, Liverpool, Chelsea and I add Arsenal, which has strengthened very well and has had great games in the pre-season.
“City’s advantage is that it already has a team that knows what to do on the field and has added variants such as Haaland and Julian Alvarez. It is true that they must adapt but Pep has already said that great players do not need time to adapt. City have lost Sterling, although Liverpool – who will be in the fight – have lost Mane but have brought in Darwin Nunez.
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“Everything will be very even, as it has been happening, but we will have to be attentive to Arsenal’s performance, which has put together a great project with the help of Arteta and I think that this year they will give people something to talk about.”
Arsenal's splurge means the Londoners have now significantly invested in Arteta's squad for the second consecutive summer - but the spending is expected to continue in north London right up until the transfer window slams shut in September.
Arteta is thought to be keen on acquiring another winger; although any deal could hinge on Arsenal offloading club-record flop Nicolas Pepe. The Gunners also continue to be linked with a deal for Youri Tielemans, who has been a long-term target.
