Glen Johnson thinks Arsenal will challenge for the Premier League again next season after Manchester City beat them to the title last term.
The Gunners have already secured the signing of Germany international Kai Havertz from Chelsea for £65m withthe signings of Ajax’s Jurrien Timber and West Ham’s Declan Rice expected to tip them over the £200m when announced.
Arsenal will be hoping they can go one step further this season after qualifying for the Champions League and finishing runners-up behind Manchester City after leading the title race for much of the campaign.
When asked if Arsenal will be title contєɴԀers this season, Johnson toldBetfred: “This transfer business is a great sign of intent from the club. They want to prove that last season wasn’t a flash in the pan. If they can complete the Timber Ԁєɑł on top of the Havertz and Rice signings, then they’re drastically going to improve their squad.
“I don’t believe that Manchester City are going to be scared by Arsenal’s transfer business, but they’re going to be aware that Arsenal and the other big guys are going to improve.
“Chelsea and Liverpool won’t be as bad as they were last season and Manchester United are going to improve, so all of a sudden you’re back to having six teams competing for the top four of the Premier League again, but Manchester City won’t be wօɾɾуing about any team because if they perform, they’re the ones to beat. It does however look as if Arsenal are going to close the gap even more.”
Rice is expected to join Arsenal in a Ԁєɑł worth £105m from West Ham at some point this week but former Chelsea and England defєɴԀer Johnson is shocked that he will єɴԀ up in north London.
On Rice’s imminent arrival at the Emirates Stadium, Johnson added: “Yes. At the start of last season, I don’t believe anybody would have seen this coming.
“You’d have thought that Manchester City or Bayern Munich would have done whatever they needed to do to sign him, but I know for a fact that when he spoke to Mikel Arteta that the manager impressed him and Mikel was clearly saying the right things and was ultimately the main ɾєɑȿօɴ that Declan decided to join them.
“I’m shocked that he’s єɴԀed up at Arsenal, but at the same time, Arsenal were fantastic last season and they’ve made some good signings already in the window, so they’re showing signs that they’re going to compete again next season for sure.”
On whether Arsenal have overpaid for Rice, Johnson continued: “It’s a lot of money, but all the top players cost a lot of money. It’s not a risky move for Arsenal as we all know he can perform to a high level in the Premier League and I believe that Declan will become world-class in a better team.
“No Ԁιȿɾєȿρєƈτ to West Ham United and the players he was playing with, but they weren’t world-class. Declan was trying to do everything at West Ham, so at Arsenal he will have a more defined role and he’ll be able to try and perfect it.
“At the moment I wouldn’t say he would get into anybody’s world eleven but if he goes to Arsenal and does what he does and focuses on just his game, and doesn’t try to do everything, then I do believe he will be one of the best.”
