Michael Owen makes Premier League title and top-four prediction as Arsenal open gap and Liverpool improve

Michael Owen has made his Premier League title and top four predictions (Picture: BT Sport)

Michael Owen believes Premier League leaders Arsenal are ‘here to stay’ but still expects Manchester City to defend the title this season.

Reigning champions Man City slipped four points behind early leaders Arsenal last weekend after their unbeaten run was ended by Liverpool.

Arsenal have enjoyed their best ever start to a league season, winning nine of their first 10 games to establish themselves as genuine title contenders under Mikel Arteta.

Tottenham are currently level with Manchester City on 23 points but have played a game more than most of their top-four rivals after losing to Manchester United on Wednesday night.

Chelsea are still fourth and remain unbeaten under new manager Graham Potter, although they were held to goalless draw by west London rivals Brentford last time out.

Man United are now just a point behind Chelsea, while Liverpool made up more ground on the other top-four contenders by beating West Ham at Anfield last night.

Former England striker Owen says it is ‘tough’ to make a confident top-four prediction but has tipped Manchester United and Tottenham to fall short in the pursuit of Champions League football.

He said: ‘Well, it is tough to call the top four. Manchester City for sure. I think Chelsea are probably going to be in the top four. Arsenal as well. It’s very hard to leave one out, isn’t it?

‘I’m actually torn between Liverpool and Tottenham at the moment. I’m going to say Liverpool, but how can you leave Tottenham out of the top four when they are playing particularly well as well?

‘Manchester United, they’ve got a good chance. But there’s going to be a massive team that everybody would expect to be in the top four that are going to miss out this year.

‘I do think Liverpool are still right up there among the elite. I think that even though Arsenal had a good start to the season and Liverpool are maybe ten points or so behind them, I still think that Manchester City and Liverpool are the top two teams in Europe for that matter.

‘So it’s so hard to say. I’ll probably say Tottenham and Manchester United will miss out.’

Turning his attentions to the title race, Owen added to AceOdds: ‘Arsenal have surprised a lot of people, and I don’t think it’s a fluke. When you watch their performances, they’ve actually played really well.

‘The good thing for them is that they’ve got a young team. So you would think that energy and improvement will continue to come for them.

‘I don’t think Arsenal are a flash in the pan at all. I think they’ll sustain it. I think they’ll have a good season.

‘But I think Manchester City are different class to anyone at the moment. I think they’ve had a great start to the season.

‘Obviously, they lost to Liverpool the other day, but they look so good in so many games. I still think Manchester City will win the league, but I think Arsenal are here to stay.’

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‘It’s very hard to leave one out, isn’t it?’