Arsenal warned over £349m title rivals by former Gunners defender

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Emmanuel Eboue has identified Chelsea as the side Arsenal need to watch most closely in this season's Premier League title race, pointing to the £349million the Blues spent across 11 signings in the summer window.

The former Arsenal right-back, speaking to LiveFootballTickets, believes Xabi Alonso's squad has the depth to force its way into the conversation despite a stop-start opening to the campaign.

"Chelsea are a team Arsenal need to be careful of because they have a lot of very good players," Eboue said. "The Premier League is going to be very tough, but I believe in what Arteta is doing and I believe in Arsenal."

Chelsea's mixed start

Chelsea's summer rebuild under Alonso brought in Morgan Rogers, Danny Welbeck and Emi Martinez among the 11 arrivals, but the early returns have been uneven.

Wins over Fulham and Brighton to open the season were followed by just one point from a possible nine against Arsenal, Hull and Brentford, with the 3-0 defeat at the hands of Brentford before the international break leaving them five points adrift of the Gunners.

Manchester City currently top the table, eight points clear of Chelsea and three ahead of Arteta's side at this early stage of the season.

Eboue backs Arsenal to retain the crown

Despite the warning, Eboue expects the champions to hold onto their title and put a figure on it.

"Arsenal are my team. This season is going to be very tough because there are so many good teams and good players," he said. "But if Arsenal play the way they have been playing, I believe they can win the league. I would give them maybe a 75 per cent chance."

The Ivorian, who made more than 200 appearances for the club, also believes this could be the year Arsenal finally land a first European Cup after falling short against Paris Saint-Germain in May.

"Arsenal have been getting closer and closer. If you keep getting close every year, one day you will win it," Eboue added. "I believe in this team and in the way they play. Before, people would say Arsenal play good football but they don't win. Now teams are going to be scared when they play against Arsenal."

He finished with a clear verdict on the manager: "I love Arteta. I really like this manager."

Arsenal have already taken points off Chelsea once this season, part of the run that has left Alonso's expensively assembled squad playing catch-up before the campaign reaches October. The two sides will meet again later in the season, by which point the shape of the title race should be considerably clearer.