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Both Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer have predicted that Arsenal will fall short of the Premier League title once again, with the former expecting Liverpool’s summer transfer business to prove too big a hurdle for the Gunners to overcome.
The new league season gets underway on Friday, with Liverpool kicking things off against Bournemouth at Anfield. Arne Slot’s team has already begun its 2025/26 campaign, although it missed out on the first piece of silverware available after losing the Community Shield on penalties to Crystal Palace.
The Reds will be aiming to put that out of their minds as they begin the defense of their title, and they’ll no doubt be expecting challenges from the usual suspects.
Arsenal will be hoping to finally end its 21-year wait, having finished second in each of the last three campaigns, while Manchester City will be aiming to bounce back following last season’s slump, and there have been some shouts from pundits that Chelsea could also be involved in the race.
Mikel Arteta’s side though is being tipped for more heartbreak, with both Shearer and Lineker predicting they’ll fail to end their long wait for the title.
Making their predictions on The Rest Is Football podcast, Shearer began on Arsenal: “I think they’ll challenge, I just think they may fall short again.
“I like all of their signings. I think that’s exactly what they needed. And I still don’t think they may be finished yet in terms of bringing players in and certainly players going out.
“I’ve definitely got them in Champions League but I just don’t see them having enough to win the title. Just fall short.”
And his former Match of the Day colleague Lineker agreed, suggesting that Liverpool will prove too strong again after a busy summer in the transfer market.
“I think I concur with both of you on that front. I probably wouldn’t have said that if it wasn’t that Liverpool have strengthened so well.
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“A lot too will depend on how Gyokeres does. I mean he scored a terrific goal in pre-season but we all know pre-season is not that important. Although, it is for a striker in terms of that feeling of hitting the back of the net.
“So I think a lot will depend on him but we know he’ll get good service. I think they could go close again but I’m going to agree.”
Liverpool.com says: We would be very wary of writing Arsenal off just yet, especially since Liverpool has shown it still has some work to do after it showing in the Community Shield.
It might be a make or break season for Arteta though. You suspect patience might run out if it proves to be another nearly season for the Gunners.
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