Zlatan Ibrahimovic is not convinced that Arsenal will secure a second consecutive title this season. In a concise Q&A with ESPN, the former forward decisively named Manchester City as his pick for Premier League glory, while predicting Chelsea to lift the FA Cup.
The Gunners enter the title challenge as the reigning champions, having ended a 22-year wait for a league victory last season after finishing second in three consecutive campaigns.
During the summer, Mikel Arteta’s side made significant investments to bolster their squad, bringing in new faces like Christos Tsolis, Ezri Konsa, and Bruno Guimaraes.
The start of the new season has been promising for Arsenal, winning their first four matches. Yet, just before the international break, they suffered a shocking defeat, going down 0-3 to Brighton.
Currently, Arsenal sit second in the table, with Manchester City leading the way following a perfect start under Enzo Maresca.
When asked who he believes will take the Premier League title, Ibrahimovic’s response was incredibly succinct:
“Manchester City.”
He also weighed in on the FA Cup, predicting success for another club. When posed the question of who will win the trophy, his answer was just as brief:
“Chelsea.”
In effect, Ibrahimovic sees no room for the current champions in either of the main domestic tournaments this season: he hands the Premier League title to Maresca's City and the FA Cup to Chelsea, managed by Xabi Alonso.
Following the international break, Arsenal will face Leeds, while Manchester City will take on Liverpool.
The match for City will unfold against the backdrop of ongoing financial investigations. Reports indicate that the club has been found guilty of 114 Premier League breaches and has appealed the ruling, maintaining its innocence.
Gary Neville has suggested that the potential repercussions could be far more severe than a mere fine, transfer ban, or points deduction, with the former Manchester United defender highlighting the gravest threat as a possible change in ownership.
