Alan Shearer believes Arsenal can definitely win the Premier League this season, and he singled out Bukayo Saka for praise from the opening win over Wolves.

Arsenal's Bukayo Saka takes a corner kick during the pre-season friendly football match for the Emirates Cup final between Arsenal and and Lyon, at the Emirates Stadium in London on August 11, 2024. (Photo by BENJAMIN CREMEL/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka takes a corner kick during the pre-season friendly football match for the Emirates Cup final between Arsenal and and Lyon, at the Emirates Stadium in London on August 11, 2024. (Photo by BENJAMIN CREMEL/AFP via Getty Images)

Arsenal won their opening Premier League fixture against Wolverhampton Wanderers at the weekend, kicking off 2024/25 with a 2-0 victory.

The big question is whether the Gunners can kick on from two second-place finishes and win the title this time around. Speaking on Match of the Day, Alan Shearer insisted he thinks they can.

“The best defence in the league last season, they’ve gone out and signed a defender. We expect [Mikel] Merino to come in next week,” Shearer said.

“89 points last season, took it all the way to the final day. I think they can do it. Yeah, absolutely (they can win the league). I think they can do it. Yes, definitely.”

NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND - JANUARY 02: Ex Newcastle United player Alan Shearer is seen commentating prior to the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Manchester United at St. James Park on January 2, 2019 in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND: Ex Newcastle United player Alan Shearer is seen commentating prior to the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Manchester United at St. James Park on January 2, 2019. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Shearer also had specific praise for Bukayo Saka, saying: “I’ve got to say how great Saka was today. One goal, one assist, just absolutely superb he was.”

Saka only recently joined up with Arsenal for pre-season, having featured heavily for England at Euro 2024.

It was a race against time to get the winger back involved before the opening day of the new season, but Mikel Arteta will be delighted the 22-year-old won that race. With a goal and an assist, Saka was pivotal to the three points.

Bukayo Saka and David Raya in training with Arsenal (Photo via Arsenal.com)
Bukayo Saka and David Raya in training with Arsenal (Photo via Arsenal.com)

Unfortunately for Arsenal, defending champions Manchester City also opened the league season with a 2-0 win, so they’re in an equivalent position to the Gunners after the opening day.

It doesn’t look like Pep Guardiola’s side are just going to fade away, so Arsenal will have to keep raising their level to win the league this time around.