Manchester City, fresh off securing the treble – English Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League – is eyeing more history this season.
In the 135-year history of the English league, no club has won the top-flight title for four consecutive years – something City can do if it wins the trophy next May.
One of the clubs hoping to prevent City from creating history is Arsenal, one of four teams to have won three consecutive titles.
Arsenal’s trio of league titles came in 1933, 1934, and 1935. The other teams to do so are Huddersfield Town (1924-1926), Liverpool (1982-84), and Manchester United, who did it twice – 1999-2001 and 2007-2009.
The Gunners have reinforced their team with the signings of Declan Rice (£105 million), Kai Havertz (£65 million), and Justin Timber (£38).
It is an enormous layout but one Arsenal fans hope will eventually hand them the title after a 20-year wait.
Rice’s record transfer will make him a marked man, but the defensive midfielder with an eye for accurate passes could make Arsenal’s midfield tick this season, especially if he can link up well with the more attacking-minded Havertz.
Centreback Timber will solidify Arsenal’s defence, allowing the creative players more freedom to express themselves.
Arsenal led the EPL for 93 per cent of the season, only to suffer a slump in form towards the run-in, which allowed a more consistent City to pip it to the title.
Manager Mikel Arteta is banking on the new signings to help prevent another collapse this season.
The new boys can show what they are made of when Arsenal takes on Manchester City in the traditional curtain raiser – the Community Shield – on Sunday (11pm).
City has been relatively quiet in the transfer market, only signing Mateo Kovacic from Chelsea for £30 million, and youngster Spike Brits from AFC Wimbledon for an undisclosed fee.
