Get French Football News once again sat down with former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder Emmanuel Petit to discuss the start of the new Premier League season, the transfer dealings of his former clubs and how he thinks the table might look at the end of the Ligue 1 season.
Arsenal once again missed out narrowly on the title last season, based on their performances and work in the transfer market, do you believe Mikel Arteta’s side can go one step further and be crowned Premier League champions this term?
Yes, definitely. I think the team has improved so much over the last two seasons. Arsenal are also working really well in the transfer market. They are also working to add new players with the window closing at the end of the month, so I think there will be more players coming to the club.
However, when you look at City, they are still the reference in the Premier League. They are still the team to beat. You can see that the gap between City and Arsenal has closed a lot during the last two seasons. And I’m pretty sure when you look at Arsenal, this team is young and they play the same football on the pitch which makes me feel sure it will be difficult for City this season to keep their crown. Nobody would’ve said two seasons ago, that Arsenal would compete for the title but I’m pretty sure this season it will be difficult for City to win it.
Continuing on the topic of Arsenal, Declan Rice is someone who impressed during the summer at EURO 2024, as someone who played in the position, do you believe he is the best defensive midfielder in the world?
Definitely, he is one of the best. I am a huge fan of Declan. Even when he was playing for West Ham. I was very happy, two seasons ago, when Arsenal bought him. He is a born leader. He has also improved a lot as well and can play different positions – but his winning mentality, and as well his personality and character is something that is very good in the dressing room and also on the pitch.
And, yes for me, Declan Rice is one of the best midfield players for me in modern football. He can still improve a lot, but for me, I am very happy with him. I mean when he signed for Arsenal, nobody would have predicted the season he would have for the first season and he did very well. He’s been playing like he was at the club for the last ten years and you can see he fits perfectly in Arteta’s system. For me, he is the captain of this team. There are few players within the team that can wear the armband, but he always gives everything on the pitch and he is one of the leading men of Arsenal.
I wanted to talk about another of your former clubs – Chelsea. As a former player, what are your thoughts on the club’s transfer policy? They have been very heavily focused on recruiting lots of young players again this summer.
I can understand spending a lot of money on young players, but I don’t get it when you have 40, or 45 players. If I am the manager at the club, I am thinking what the hell – I am managing so many players. The main problem for Chelsea is stability, on the bench but also on the pitch. Every single transfer window, they change players – they buy, they sell – you don’t know sometimes what they are trying to do.
I am very upset that Gallagher has to be sold because of financial rules. To be honest with you, sometimes I don’t get it. I don’t understand their sporting vision. Again, if I am a Chelsea player, even if I sign a contract with them, I don’t have a guarantee I will be with them in 6 months.
I think they are lacking experience at the minute. Especially, in the big big positions in the team. They lack experienced players, they bought so many young players, and they have so many players, sometimes I have the feeling they are trying to do what they do in American sports. This is not American sports, this is European football. You need consistency with your players. When you buy so many players, it brings confusion to the minds of players. The fact you don’t have big big experienced players to protect the younger players causes troubles. I don’t get it.
I don’t know why they splash so much money every window and then are forced to sell players due to financial rules. Sometimes I am lost when I read articles about the transfer window because Chelsea are always interested in signing players. They are there all the time. Stability has been the main problem at Chelsea since Abramovich left.
Finally, how do you see the new Ligue 1 season unfolding at the top end of the division?
I think Paris Saint-Germain will keep their crown because there is no competition with them in the French league. I think Monaco – I saw what they did against Barcelona – if they can avoid injuries, they will finish second just like last season. Marseille, I have seen what they are doing in the transfer market, I think that they will be there as well. Lille, as well, I think this is my prediction for the top 4 in the table.
Emmanuel Petit was speaking to Get French Football News exclusively on behalf of BetVictor, who have the latest football betting offers.
