Arsenal have been tipped to finish ahead of Manchester United by former Newcastle United, Aston Villa and Stoke City goalkeeper Shay Given.

Arsenal haven’t been listed as contenders by many, but Given thinks that despite massive spending, Manchester United still aren’t ahead of the Gunners, Chelsea or Manchester City. He even suggested that Tottenham Hotspur would have a better chance at the title than United.

Arsenal aren’t many people’s favourites for the title this season, but Given did feel the Gunners are better placed than Manchester United saying:”I think (Man Utd) will be close but I don’t think they will be as close as some people are making out,” reports Sky Sports via Daily Star.

“But I still think the obvious contenders, Chelsea will still buy a few more players before the window closes, of course Arsenal, and then Tottenham again will look to strengthen.”

Manchester City have widely been tipped as the favourites to win the Premier League and Given agreed with this assessment, adding: For me any team that finishes above Man City will win the league but I fancy them.

It’s been a mixed start so far for the Premier League big six, with Chelsea and Liverpool already dropping points and Arsenal having to come through a seven-goal thriller to get their win against Leicester on the opening day.

Whether or not the goalkeeper is correct in his assessment, Arsenal fans will enjoy the fact that for once the pundits haven’t predicted them to finish behind everyone else. It seems a yearly tradition to completely write the London club off.

The pressure is certainly on Manchester United to perform, after they have again spent lofty sums on new players. But the same is true of Manchester City, while Chelsea haven’t exactly been stingy despite what manager Antonio Conte would have us believe.

Time will tell which clubs can live up to the challenge.