Russian feels the recent arrival of Ozil makes his old club favourites for the title.
Former Arsenal playmaker Andrey Arshavin has admitted that he is “surprised” by the brilliant start the north London club have made to the new season, while also believing that the Gunners can now go on and win the Premier League title, according to reports in the Daily Mirror.
The experienced Russia international endured a torrid time of it during his four years spent with the club following a then club-record £15 million move to the Emirates from Russian giants Zenit St Petersburg in January 2009, with the midfield player handed a lucrative £90,000-per-week contract by the north Londoners.
And, apart from one memorable game against Liverpool in April 2009 when Arshavin incredibly found the back of the net on four occasions in a remarkable 4-4 draw in the Premier League at Anfield, the playmaker generally struggled to adapt to life in the capital.
However, in his later years at the club, the 32-year-old spent more time warming the substitutes’ bench than actually on the field of play, before Arshavin eventually re-joined Zenit at the end of last season on a free transfer.
Arshavin, though, has now backed Arsene Wenger’s side to finally bring an end to their eight-year wait for a trophy by winning the title this season, saying: “Arsenal are playing much better than they have over the last two or three years.
“I was surprised that they won so comfortably against Liverpool, because they too are in excellent form right now.
“The signing of [Mesut] Ozil has brought stability to the side and now this season Arsenal have a real chance to finish in first place.”