Liverpool now lead the pack in the race for the Premier League title, following their blockbuster signing of Alexander Isak.
The Gunners have narrowly missed out on the top prize for three consecutive seasons, most recently falling short to Arne Slot’s Liverpool in the 2024–25 campaign.
Despite predictions from pundits like Gary Neville that Arsenal could finally end their title drought—having last lifted the trophy in 2004—Arteta believes Liverpool’s record-breaking £125 million acquisition of Isak from Newcastle United has shifted the balance.
Speaking during Friday’s press conference, Arteta was asked how the arrival of the Swedish striker has reshaped the dynamics of this season’s title challenge, and he admitted Liverpool now appear to be the most formidable side in the league.
‘Well, they are the strongest for sure,’ Arteta told reporters ahead of his team’s clash against Nottingham Forest on Saturday.
‘They have recruited probably the most, the two most decisive players that there were in Europe in the market. And they’ve done really well to recruit that.
‘They are very strong. But we need to look at ourselves and what we need to do in terms of our abilities to be better than them. That’s it.’
Despite a slow start, Manchester City could also be in the mix for the Premier League title and Pep Guardiola has refuted Slot’s claim that Isak is the best striker in the world.
‘Erling [Haaland] is a bit above,’ Guardiola said ahead of his team’s game against Manchester United on Sunday.
‘Isak must be a top player because of what Liverpool paid for him, obviously.’
Guardiola went on to claim lots of people will have different opinions on who is the best.
‘Someone else will say [Kylian] Mbappe, someone [Lionel] Messi, someone Cristiano [Ronaldo],’ he added.
‘That’s fine, it’s a game of opinions… I would not change Erling for anyone.’
Liverpool beat Arsenal 1-0 in their last Premier League game and are the only top-flight team to have won all three of the opening matches.
‘I think Arne explained the game really well after the game when he said, if we play 10 times, only eight times will be a draw,’ Arteta added.
‘One will be for Arsenal, the other one was for Liverpool. And a magic moment decided that game. So, we want more. We want to want more of those games.
‘And reviewing what we’ve done and as well the circumstances that we’ve had, not only in the way that we play but in other areas, there is still room to improve for sure. And that’s very good because the team is already at a really high level.’
