Frank Leboeuf Warns Arsenal: “Manchester City and Chelsea Are Still in the Title Race’’

Former Chelsea defender Frank Leboeuf has insisted that the Premier League title race is far from a one-horse battle, warning that Manchester City and Chelsea remain serious contenders despite Arsenal’s strong start to the season.

Speaking on ESPN, Leboeuf acknowledged that Arsenal are the current favourites but argued that the Gunners’ recent slip-ups show that the title is far from secured.

“They [Arsenal] are still the big favourites [for the title], but they will have to prove it,” Leboeuf said.
“They lost four points against Sunderland and Chelsea. Manchester City are back, Chelsea are still there. We will have the winter period, which will start very soon, so let’s see.”

Arsenal have continued to lead the Premier League table but have faced criticism for failing to capitalise on opportunities, especially in games where they played with an advantage. The club has not lifted the Premier League trophy since Arsène Wenger’s golden era many years ago, heightening pressure on Mikel Arteta’s side to finish the job this time around.

Opinion: Arsenal Are Favourites—But History Warns That This Is When the Real Race Begins

Leboeuf’s comments highlight a reality Arsenal fans know too well: the Premier League is not won in autumn. Arsenal may be playing some of the best football in the country, but the title race is a marathon, not a sprint.

Manchester City—serial winners with a squad built for endurance—always come alive in the second half of the season. Chelsea, on the other hand, are unpredictable but undeniably improving under their current rebuild.

Arsenal’s dropped points against Chelsea and Sunderland expose a familiar concern:
Can this team maintain focus when the pressure tightens?

The winter period, full of congested fixtures and fatigue, has historically been the stage where City surge forward and others fall away. If Arsenal want to silence doubts, this is the stretch of the season where they must show maturity, resilience, and depth—traits title winners cannot do without.

The Gunners remain favourites, yes.
But Leboeuf is right—the chasing pack is very much alive, and Arsenal must fight every week like the title is slipping away.