EXCLUSIVE: 'Arsenal will respect everyone, but not fear anyone', says former star Petit

Arsenal's defence of their Premier League title will begin on Friday evening as the North London club clash with newly promoted Coventry City at the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners, managed by Mikel Arteta, head into the new campaign as defending champions for the first time in more than two decades following last season's title triumph, which saw them finish seven points clear of Manchester City.

Arsenal are heavily fancied to retain their crown but have never successfully done so in their history since the 1930's in what is a worrying statistic for supporters.

Arsenal 'will not fear anyone'

Speaking exclusively to Tribal Football via Grosvenor Sport, Petit backed Arsenal to go all the way once more, especially after the side brought in world-class talents such as Bruno Guimaraes and Christos Tzolis.

Who do you see as Arsenal’s biggest threat this season? Are you worried about any team in particular?

"Arsenal will respect everyone, but not fear anyone. You are the champions. You reached the Champions League final, and you have improved the team further. Some players have left, but others have arrived, and I think they are good additions in terms of value and quality.

"I hope they avoid injuries, especially Tzolis. I hope he stays fit because he has made a really good impression in the Community Shieldin the Community Shield. Bruno Guimaraes has as well. They clearly enjoyed it. The difference between Man City and Arsenal was obvious. Arsenal are ready to start the Premier League, but I’m not sure about City."

What does Bruno Guimaraes bring to Arsenal that they were previously missing? Are you happy about him signing for the club?

"Look at the midfield players at Arsenal; (Mikel) Merino and (Martin) Zubimendi are world and European champions. Then you have Bruno Guimaraes, who is for me one of the best midfield players in the Premier League.

"Look at Martin Odegaard; he is playing with the same quality I saw during the World Cup. I hope he avoids injury, but you have so many great players with that same style of football. 

"You can also add Declan Rice to that list of great midfield players, so I'm not worried about that area. I have no doubt that Arteta will find the perfect solution for rotation. They have so many games to play that everyone will be happy and get their chance. My only concern for Arsenal is the central defensive positions.

"I also think we should add a striker and perhaps one more left winger. If Tzolis is injured, who else can play there? (Leandro) Trossard is no longer at the club, and (Gabriel) Martinelli is going to leave, so who takes that spot? 

"If Tzolis were to be sidelined, you would be missing a key player. I believe adding at least two or three more players would be good for Arsenal. If they do that, I think they can achieve back-to-back success, much like Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.

"They have the confidence, and they now know they can win trophies, having already won the Premier League. They reached the Champions League final and know they have the quality to compete against the top teams in Europe.

"That confidence and happiness are very important. When I watched the Community Shield, they looked really happy to be playing together, which is something that can be very difficult to establish at the start of a season. The core squad and the spine of the team remain the same from last season, so I truly believe Arsenal will win the title again."

Could Gyokeres thrive this season?

Viktor Gyokeres started most games in the Premier League last season and grabbed 14 goals in 36 Premier League appearances, making him the club's top scorer. Despite his impressive stats, the Swedish international was often ridiculed for his lack of impact under Arteta. Petit opened up on the striker and who could unlock him in the side as fans hope to see him flourish in North London.

Could Christos Tzolis and Bruno Guimaraes be the key to unlocking Viktor Gyokeres, who hasn’t really taken off at Arsenal?

"How can Arsenal get the best out of Viktor Gyokeres? Christos Tzolis has really impressed me. The energy, the vision, the technique. I was really tired for years with our wingers making differences on the flank and missing the last part of it, the cross. 

"This is something Arsenal has to improve because most of the time differences are made with wide players. And Tzolis, every time before he crosses the ball, he knows exactly where his teammates are. This is something Gyokeres was missing.

"When you look at the goals he scored with Sporting, and when you look at most of the goals he scored with Arsenal, it depends on his teammates. He needs the same understanding in terms of movement, the timing of it, and the techniques.

"With the energy he has, Gyokeres up front brings so much movement; he gives 100% all the time mentally and physically on the pitch. So he only needs a good creator. 

"Tzolis could be an option, and I think Bruno Guimaraes as well will be something important. But Odegaard, if he's not injured, would be very important for Gyokeres."

Petit's biggest worry

Despite confidence being at an all-time high in the Arsenal camp, Petit revealed that he does have one concern heading into the new campaign. The former midfielder believes another defender is needed to allow Arsenal to thrive, comments which come as Arsenal sign Aston Villa's Ezri Konsa, who can fill in for William Saliba and Jurrien Timber, who are both still injured.

Do you think Arsenal will win the title again this year? Or do you think they will face a lot of problems? What's stopping them from defending their Premier League title?

"My only fear for Arsenal is injuries in central defence; it has been an issue for us throughout the three years we've fought for the Premier League title with Liverpool and Manchester City.

"We saw that during the second half of the season when losing key players like Gabriel or Saliba to long-term injuries caused us to lose games and composure in defence. So, I am not surprised by the focus on Saliba's return.

"We've been told that it will be shorter than expected, but the physical and mental demands of the season are so high that you have to rotate players, especially with the return of Champions League football. Central defenders have been an issue for Arsenal, so I think they need to add another player in that position before the window closes."

Arsenal showed their quality in the Community Shield against Manchester City last weekend and will be seeking a simple three points against Coventry to kick-start what may be another title-winning campaign.

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