Dion Dublin has backed Arsenal to make a push for a historic treble or quadruple this season, claiming Mikel Arteta’s side already look like the best team in the Premier League.
The Gunners have begun the campaign in the same vein of form as they ended the last, when they won the Premier League title for the first time in 22 years.
They emerged victorious from Sunday’s London Derby against Chelsea, the toughest challenge they have faced thus far.
And former England striker Dublin reckons Arsenal’s summer transfer business and newfound calm under pressure give them a massive edge over their title rivals.
Fantastic four
“Can Arsenal win four trophies this season? Maybe. It’s the start of the season so they’ve got every chance to go and do it,” Dublin said in an exclusive chat with Reviant.
“You could argue that’s true for every other club whether it’s Chelsea or Manchester United, but Arsenal are the club in pole position.
“They’ll have their sights set on winning the Premier League again first and foremost, but I think there’ll be a sense in that dressing room, all around the Arsenal training ground, that we could do something special here.
“No one is going to come out and say it. They’ll be saying, ‘Don’t tell anybody what we’re thinking here.’
“But I think they have the quality and the confidence now to believe we could go and do a double or a treble or maybe something more. That’s what the Arsenal players will be thinking.
“They’ll want to go further this year, and you look at the business they’ve done and they look stronger than they did last season, so they should go close.”
More assured
Dublin also noted a complete shift in Arsenal’s mindset, pointing out how much more composed Arteta and his players look when falling behind in big games.
“Could Arsenal run away with the title this year? No, I don’t think it’s going to be that kind of season, but they already look like they’re going to be the best team by far,” Dublin continued.
“They look a better team than they were last season too.
“I think now they’ve won that title, they look so much more assured.
“There’s a greater composure under pressure. We saw it against Chelsea. They go a goal down and they never look worried.
“Last season we’d have seen Mikel Arteta rolling about the floor, but now I think he’s got real confidence in his team.
“He can look over his shoulder, look out on the pitch and think, ‘I’ve got good players here, and they can work it out.'”
No need to panic
Drawing parallels to his own playing days, Dublin compared Arsenal’s current mindset to the mentality of Sir Alex Ferguson’s early title-winning sides at Manchester United.
“I think that’s what will be so scary about Arsenal this season,” Dublin added.
“They’ve got this kind of backing behind them now. It’s very much like what Manchester United had with Sir Alex Ferguson when he had Brian Kidd at his side once they won that first title.
“There’s a self-assurance there now where there’s no need to panic. They know how good they are. They know they can get over the line. If they get in a tight spot, it’s fine. They’ll come back.
“That’s terrifying for the rest of the Premier League, but I still think there’s enough quality to keep it tighter in the title race than people might think.”
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