Former Premier League manager Sam Allardyce has cast doubt on Arsenal’s prospects of defending their league title, predicting that Manchester City will secure their 11th top-flight crown in the upcoming 2026-27 campaign. Allardyce shared his assessment on the No Tippy Tappy Football podcast, offering a contrarian view despite the Gunners’ recent success.
Mikel Arteta’s squad, who ended a 22-year title drought this past May following an impressive 85-point 2025-26 season, are widely viewed as the favorites. Their form was further validated this past Sunday with a dominant 3-0 victory over Manchester City in the FA Community Shield. Arsenal, who also reached the UEFA Champions League final earlier in 2026, enter the new season as the team to beat, even as major rivals like Liverpool, Chelsea, and Manchester City navigate transitions under new management.
The Gunners are set to kick off their title defense this Friday at the Emirates Stadium against newly promoted Coventry City. While the team remains strong, former Chelsea star Joe Cole suggested on the Dressing Room podcast that Arsenal must secure a high-caliber striker to maintain their dominance. Cole specifically identified Galatasaray’s Victor Osimhen as the ideal target to help the club retain their trophy.
Osimhen, who turns 28 in December, established himself as a premier global talent after leading Napoli to a Serie A title in 2023. Since joining Galatasaray, the Nigerian international has been prolific, recording 61 goals and 16 assists in 75 appearances. The former Lille forward, who has already contributed to two Turkish league titles and one Turkish cup, remains under contract with the Istanbul club until June 2029. The report also notes that arsenal, who lost the UEFA Champions League final earlier in 2026, look the most likely club to win the Premier League, with a number of their rivals set to begin new eras. The report also notes that liverpool legend Phil Thompson reacted by commenting.
