Former Chelsea and France defender Frank Leboeuf has labelled Arsenal as the prime contenders for the upcoming Premier League season. In an interview with ESPN, the 1998 World Cup champion explained his reasoning by highlighting the stability of the Gunners' squad compared to their rivals.
Leboeuf praised Mikel Arteta's work in establishing a solid team structure and emphasised that the return of key players and squad depth will be crucial factors.
"The reason is clear: other teams aren’t entirely sure of their path. Arsenal have certain guarantees, and they know that with their current squad, they can outperform anyone," — said Frank Leboeuf.
He also touched upon tactical questions, including the impact of new arrivals and the dependency on key players.
"We don’t know what Bruno Guimaraes can bring to the side, whether he’ll partner with Declan Rice, and what Mikel Arteta’s decision will be. The biggest question concerns William Saliba. It’s great that Piero Incapie has signed, and Cristian Mosquera can play in that position, but no one can replace Saliba," — added the expert.
In conclusion, the legendary defender expressed confidence in the Gunners' capabilities but noted they must prove their status on the pitch.
"If I were an Arsenal fan, I wouldn’t be worried. Can they now do the double and win the Premier League? Yes, for me they are the favourites, but they have to prove it," — summed up the 1998 World Cup champion.
