David Silva predicted only one team would be able to challenge Manchester City for the Premier League title this season.
City won a third straight title last term and also claimed the FA Cup and a first Champions League in a stunning treble-winning campaign.
They matched the achievement from Sir Alex Ferguson's Manchester United side and now Pep Guardiola is looking to lift an unprecedented fourth Premier League in a row.
City were tested in the Premier League last season as Arsenal led for the majority of the campaign before succumbing to the pressure and ultimately finishing second, five points behind.
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They strengthened the squad in the summer with the big-money captures of Declan Rice, Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber.
Arsenal finally beat City in the Community Shield before a late Gabriel Martinelli goal sealed a win in the league meeting at the Emirates.
And City legend David Silva believes they are the only side capable of challenging City once again.
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"Arsenal are the only team I can see who maybe have a chance of challenging City," he told The Mirror back in September.
"The rest? I don’t think they can.
"I watched nearly all of City’s games in the Champions League last season, I couldn’t win it when I was there, but I’m so happy for the club that they were finally able to do it.
"They deserve it. The club deserves it, the supporters deserve to win the Premier League, Champions League and FA Cup – the Treble. It was an amazing achievement."
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Arsenal suffered a first defeat of the season against Newcastle on Saturday in controversial fashion, with Anthony Gordon's winner standing despite three separate VAR checks.
They are three points off the top but whereas it was them and City above the rest of the pack last term, Liverpool and Spurs are also in the mix.
Spurs, under Ange Postecoglou, are the only side yet to taste defeat and have taken 26 points from 10 games.
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They take on Chelsea in a huge clash on Monday night, with a win seeing them returning to the summit.
Topics: David Silva, Manchester City, Arsenal
Josh Lawless