Premier League legend Michael Owen believes that given the form and momentum that they have shown in the early part of the season, Arsenal is ‘here to stay in the Premier League but he still expects reigning champions Manchester City to defend their title.

Premier League legend Michael Owen believes that given the form and momentum that they have shown in the early part of the season, Arsenal is ‘here to stay in the Premier League but he still expects reigning champions Manchester City to defend their title.

Arsenal was able to open up a four-point lead at the top of the Premier League table last weekend. Their 1-0 success over Leeds United at Elland Road combined with Manchester City’s 1-0 failure at Anfield against Liverpool was a big turning point in the title race during the initial stage of the season and Mikel Arteta’s room had some breathing space at the top.

Former England striker Michael Owen says that the top-four race will be an interesting one to keep an eye out for and it will be tough to make an accurate prediction. However, he expects Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur to lose ground and end up finishing short of Champions League qualification.

‘Well, it is tough to call the top four. Manchester City for sure. I think Chelsea is 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. So, it’s so hard to say. I’ll probably say Tottenham and Manchester United will miss out.’

Having won nine of their 10 matches in the English top flight so far, the Gunners have enjoyed their best-ever start to a Premier League season and have announced their intent to be title contenders under Arteta. Manchester City is currently on 23 points, level with Tottenham Hotspur, but ahead on the basis of goal difference.

Chelsea is still fourth and remains unbeaten under new manager Graham Potter, although they were held to a goalless draw by west London rivals Brentford last time out. The Red Devils have closed the gap to the Blues to just a single point while Liverpool made up more ground on the other top-four contenders by beating West Ham at Anfield last night.