Paul Merson U-turns on who he thinks will win Premier League as transfer window closes

Paul Merson has shifted his support from his old club Arsenal to Liverpool for this season's Premier League title.

The Sky Sports pundit now believes that Arne Slot's side, who had a record-breaking spending spree during the summer transfer window, will retain the trophy.

The Gunners have strengthened well over the window, signing the likes of Viktor Gyokeres, Eberechi Eze, Noni Madueke, Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard, along with the deadline day capture of Piero Hincapie on an initial loan deal.

However, Liverpool emerged as the clear big spenders of the summer window in the Premier League, with early transfers including Hugo Ekitike, Florian Wirtz, Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong.

Following a drawn-out saga between the clubs and the player, Liverpool finally secured their top target on deadline day; Alexander Isak from Newcastle United. The Swedish striker made his way to Anfield for a British transfer record fee of £125million.

Before the start of the season, Merson had predicted that Arsenal could finally achieve their long-awaited Premier League success.

However, he appears to have quickly changed his mind after witnessing the impressive signings on Merseyside. When asked on Sky Sports if Liverpool are now the favourites to win the league, the former England international said: "Yeah, I would have thought so after yesterday as well.

"After you got [Isak]. See, I always weigh it up with the league [after some time]. I thought advantage Arsenal when they went and won at Man United, then all of a sudden they [Liverpool] go and beat Newcastle and they beat Arsenal.

"For me, they haven't even gotten out of second gear yet and they haven't played particularly well yet. Watching yesterday's game, I watched yesterday and I'm like, I've never seen an Arsenal team so comfortable at Anfield - so comfortable and they still lost.

"What they are doing as well, as Christian [Purslow] said, they're buying players to come into the team and these are top players."

Arsenal have completed some good transfer business this summer, ridding the squad of some surplus players and adding talent across the front line. Mikel Arteta finally got his man in Gyokeres, signing the Sporting CP striker for a reported fee of £63.5m.

He also added depth to his wings with Eze and Madueke, for a combined transfer total of £119.5m. The final addition to the Arsenal manager's puzzle was Bayer Leverkusen defender Hincapie, who joins on a season-long loan with an option to buy of £45m.

Loan departures included Reiss Nelson to Brentford, Fabio Viera to Hamburg, Jakob Kiwior to Porto and Oleksandr Zinchenko to Nottingham Forest. Players like Takehiro Tomiyasu have been released, with Kieran Tierney joining Celtic on a free and Jorginho heading to Flamengo in the summer.

However, the Gunners have spent pennies in comparison to Liverpool this season, with their £267m shelled out looking tiny when placed next to the Reds' £449m splashed over the summer. Failing to secure Marc Guehi proved a late setback, with centre-back arguably the sole area where manager Arne Slot lacks depth.

But right now, Arsenal sit third in the Premier League table after two wins and one loss in the opening three fixtures. They defeated Manchester United 1-0 on opening day, thrashing Leeds United 5-0 just one week later.

However, Slot's side edged out the title challengers in the final 10 minutes at Anfield, with a stunning Dominik Szoboszlai free-kick in the 83rd minute handing the Gunners their first loss of the season.

But with many more games of football to be played this season, Arteta will be calm in his demeanour as he sets his side up to challenge Liverpool and city rivals Chelsea for the trophy they want the most. After the international break, Arsenal will welcome Forest to the Emirates Stadium, before a Champions League away day to Athletic Club midweek.

Then, another real test for Arteta's men will come along as Pep Guardiola's Manchester City come calling on September 21.

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