Man City are the only team to challenge Arsenal, says Alan Smith

Former Arsenal forward Alan Smith has identified Manchester City as the sole club capable of preventing Arsenal from securing the Premier League title. Smith believes the competition for the top spot will primarily involve Mikel Arteta's side and the Manchester club.

Arsenal finished the previous Premier League season as champions, ahead of Manchester City who ended the campaign in second place. Despite the change in leadership at the Etihad, Smith maintains that City are the only genuine contenders to stop the Gunners.

Manchester City have entered a new era under manager Enzo Maresca. Smith noted that the arrival of Maresca introduces some uncertainty regarding how quickly the new manager will integrate with the existing squad.

While Smith acknowledged that several other teams are positioned just behind the top two, he does not view them as significant threats to the title race. He suggested that the current landscape of the league points toward a contest between Arsenal and City.

Smith's assessment focuses on the gap between the top two clubs and the rest of the field. He views the transition under Maresca as a variable, but still places City as the only team with the capacity to challenge Arsenal's dominance.