Pep Guardiola proves Mikel Arteta wrong on major Premier League title claim

Mikel Arteta has been proven wrong on one major claim he made ahead of the new 2025/26 Premier League season - by his good friend and former manager Pep Guardiola.

Arsenal begin the new season on Sunday as they take on Manchester United at Old Trafford in front of the Sky Sports cameras. It is probably the game of the opening weekend.

The two old rivals go head-to-head with United looking to improve dramatically on last season's dismal 15th-placed finish in the Premier League. The Gunners, meanwhile, want to end a run of three straight runners-up finishes and finally claim the crown.

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Both sides go into the clash with a new-look about them, having made major changes to their squad in the summer transfer window.

Arteta has added six new signings to his first team squad, with many set to be in the matchday party for the trip north on Sunday.

Speaking ahead of the game, Arteta made it clear the Premier League title was the goal this season.

"You keep digging, digging, digging and you have to be digging because one day the gold is going to be there," he said. "That's all the time.

"For three seasons we've had more points than any other team in this league, which is incredible. That's how you have all the consistency. Now we have to do it in a season to have one more point or the same amount of points and more goals different than any other team. That's the objective."

Arsenal have finished behind Manchester City twice and Liverpool once in the last three seasons, but Arteta's claim of having "more points than any other team" is not actually accurate.

Arsenal have picked up 247 points in the last three campaigns - 74 in 2024/25, 89 in 2023/24 and 84 in 2022/23. Whereas Man City have picked up 251 points in the same stretch - 71 in 2024/25, 91, in 2023/24 and 89 in 2022/23.

The Gunners have amassed more than Liverpool, who have won 233 points in the last three seasons, with their haul of 84 last year and 82 the year before well ahead of a below-par 67 in 2022/23.