Chelsea legend John Terry makes ‘unfortunate’ Arsenal title claim

John Terry says he expects Chelsea to continue being ‘hit and miss’ across the season while ‘unfortunately’ naming Arsenal as the ‘clear favourites’ to lift the Premier League trophy.

Arsenal kicked off their title defence in imperious fashion, winning their four opening matches and conceding just one goal in that time.

However, the reigning champions suffered their first hiccup before the international break as they were comprehensively beaten by Brighton in a stunning upset at the Amex Stadium.

The result left Manchester City as the only other team with a 100 per cent record in the English top flight this term, though the league leaders currently find themslves in disarray after being gound guilty of breaching financial rules over a nine-year period between 2009 and 2018.

Arsenal will be hoping to close the gap at the summit when they return to action at home to Leeds in just over a week’s time, while City travel to Liverpool for what promises to be an intriguing battle at Anfield.

Looking further down the table, it’s proven a far from ideal introduction for Chelsea under new manager Xabi Alonso, who has picked up only seven points from a possible 15 from his first five matches at the helm.

The inauspicious start has left Chelsea legend Terry somewhat downbeat when it comes to the club’s title chances – but he remains ‘hopeful’ over a potential top-four finish.

Asked who will finish higher out of Arsenal and Chelsea, the ex-England captain told Theo Walcott on the latter’s TikTok page: ‘Unfortuntely, it’s going to be Arsenal.

‘We [Chelsea] had a good start and we gave you guys [Arsenal] a good game actually.

‘Since that game we’ve been hit and miss to be honest and I think that’s going to be our season.

‘But I’m still hopeful of top four, I still think we’re a couple of years away from competing for the Premier League.

‘I said a little while ago that you guys [Arsenal] have got an opportunity now to go and dominate the Premier League.’

According to Terry, the Gunners have ‘everything’ required to ensure their dominance continues on the back of their success last season.

‘I just think you guys [Arsenal] have got everything at the minute,’ he added.

‘It’s not ideal. I think Chelsea have always had a team that is really solid from the back, players in the team that are capable of scoring, and Arsenal look everything of that.

‘They’re very solid and also, what I love about them at the minute, really aggressive, players that are up for the fight.

‘Once you win that battle you can then dominate the ball and Arsenal have always been capable of doing that.

‘So unfortunately, it hurts me to say, Arsenal are clear favourites [for the title].’

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