Arsenal have been installed as 6/4 favourites to retain their Premier League title after a dominant Community Shield win over Manchester City.
Arsenal head into the new Premier League season as 6/4 favourites to defend their title, and their 3-0 demolition of Manchester City in the Community Shield has done little to shake that confidence. Mikel Arteta's side scored inside 23 seconds through Riccardo Calafiori, added a second via Kai Havertz before the break, and wrapped up the win three minutes into the second half through captain Martin Odegaard.
City, under new boss Enzo Maresca, looked disjointed by comparison, and the Gunners' summer business, headlined by Bruno Guimaraes' arrival from Newcastle and a double-assist debut from £34m signing Christos Tzolis, has only strengthened the sense that Arsenal are building something sustainable.
With Arteta now the longest-serving manager among the Premier League's traditional top six, and City, Liverpool and Chelsea all adjusting to new head coaches, Arsenal's continuity looks like a genuine market edge.
Here's how the bookmakers and bettors are lining up before a ball is kicked.
Premier League Winner Odds
The latest prices have Arsenal as clear favourites to go back-to-back for the first time in the club's Premier League history:
Who is favourite to win the Premier League?
- Arsenal — 6/4
- Man City — 15/4
- Liverpool — 6/1
- Chelsea — 9/1
- Man United — 12/1
Arsenal are the standout favourites at 6/4 best price with Bresbet, with bookmakers clearly unmoved by the usual suspicion that reigning champions can suffer a hangover season.
Man City drift out to 15/4 as they navigate life without Rodri and Bernardo Silva, both of whom left this summer, while Liverpool sit as the best-priced alternative at 6/1 under new manager Andoni Iraola.
Chelsea and Manchester United make up the rest of the front-runners at 9/1 and 12/1 respectively, both sides also adjusting to fresh regimes under Xabi Alonso and Michael Carrick.
Premier League Winner Betting
Punters, though, aren't entirely convinced by the market consensus. Data from Oddschecker shows Manchester United have actually attracted the most support in the past week, taking 22.4% of all action despite drifting to 12/1 in the outright market.
Arsenal are close behind in second, with 19.5% of bets backing the champions to go back-to-back, while Chelsea round out the top three with 15.1% at 9/1.
