Former Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit has said Chelsea will not challenge for the Premier League title this season.
Petit argued it is too soon for Xabi Alonso’s side to be treated as genuine contenders and backed Arsenal to win the league again. “I think Arsenal will win back-to-back Premier Leagues,” he told talkSPORT.
“Chelsea will fight until the end for the title, but I think it’s probably too soon this season for Chelsea to be a real contender until the end.” Chelsea finished 10th last season.
The distinction he draws is between competing in matches and lasting eight months at the top. Alonso has inherited a squad that can score early and win shoot-outs; Petit is asking whether that group can stay in the conversation when the calendar thickens. Arsenal, as champions with a settled core, are his default. Chelsea, a year after mid-table, are a project he expects to chase rather than finish first.
Predictions of this kind are snapshots. A strong autumn can make “too soon” look dated; a winter dip can make it look obvious. Petit has placed his marker early: the title stays in north London, and west London is a year away from being believed. Sunday results and the next two months will test that more than a radio line.
