Strong favourites or tougher task - will Arsenal defend their title?

Arsenal have just secured the Premier League title, making them the defending champions. This is a first for the club since the 2004-05 season, as they have held the title once before. While many consider them favourites to win again, history provides some perspective on how defending champions perform and the likelihood of Arsenal claiming back-to-back Premier League titles.

Pep Guardiola, as City's manager, has made defending the title look effortless since his arrival in 2017. He led City to victory in the first three seasons, before leaving the club. Prior to that, only two managers - Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester United and Jose Mourinho at Chelsea - had overseen successful title defences in the Premier League era.

The psychological aspect of defending a title can be challenging, as players have been focused on winning the league for an entire season. The relief of securing the title can lead to a steep learning curve when trying to achieve the same feat again.

Andros Townsend, a former Premier League winger, believes the Gunners will find it difficult to replicate their success because of the competitive nature of the Premier League. The last two times Liverpool won the title, they failed to replicate their success in the following season. This trend has been observed with other top clubs as well.

Arsenal has made significant signings this summer, with Christos Tzolis and Bruno Guimaraes joining from Club Brugge and Newcastle United, respectively. However, they also face a setback with William Saliba's injury, which could impact their defensive stability. The changes at other top clubs, such as Chelsea and Manchester City, might provide some competition for Arsenal. However, with Arteta at the helm and a strong squad, the title race remains a possibility for the Gunners.