Riccardo Calafiori 'a young Paolo Maldini' who can help make Arsenal Premier League champions - Joe Cole
Published 15/08/2024 at 11:45 GMT+1
The new Premier League season brings with it plenty of excitement and intrigue - and possibly a title winner not called Manchester City. Joe Cole believes this season will be Arsenal’s time at long last, and that new signing Riccardo Calafiori will play a big part in that. Cole also said that he believes that it is “smart” of Liverpool to be patient with making signings under new boss Arne Slot.
Cole backs Arsenal for title, then warns 'never underestimate' Guardiola
Video credit: TNT Sports
Speaking ahead of the new Premier League season, TNT Sports' Joe Cole has backed Arsenal to win the title and their new defensive signing Riccardo Calafiori to shine.
Manchester City come into the new Premier League season having pipped Arsenal to the post for the past two seasons and with four straight titles under their belt.
However, asked ahead of the new campaign – you can watch newly-promoted Ipswich Town’s first game back in the top flight against Liverpool on Saturday live on TNT Sports and discovery+ – Cole said that he doesn’t think it will be five years in a row for Pep Guardiola’s side.
“No I don’t think so, I think Arsenal," he said. "I think it’s the first time in five years that I’ve backed anyone apart from Man City to win the league.
“But you can never underestimate Pep Guardiola and I think he’ll see it as a challenge, it won’t change his motivation and if he does win the league this year, this will be the biggest achievement.
"To motivate the players for five in a row would be incredible, but I fancy Arsenal this year, I do.”
In particular, Cole singled out Calafiori, who is Arsenal’s marquee signing of the summer, having arrived from Serie A surprise package Bologna.
“I’ll be excited to see how he improves this Arsenal team,” Cole said of Calafiori.
“I really like him. I picked him out at the Euros, he reminds me of a young Paolo Maldini. He’s really composed and I’ll be surprised if he doesn’t make an impact on English football.
“I’ve only seen him play a handful of times but the calmness on the ball, the composure when he’s defending, the instincts and where he puts himself.
"Playing in that left-sided role making a three, I’m confident in saying that Arsenal will concede the fewest amount of goals in the Premier League.”
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Liverpool transfer window 'smart'
Cole also had praise for Liverpool, who are the only Premier League side not to make a signing under new manager Arne Slot, their new Dutch boss who has replaced Jurgen Klopp.
Cole said: “I think it’s smart.
"They’ve got money obviously and they’ve got young players, Jarell Quansah, Harvey Elliott, [Curtis] Jones, young players who have come into the team and have played a role in the fantastic squad, but they might be relied upon more. They could develop again. I think all three of them are fantastic players.
“I think it’s smart, let’s wait and see how the other players react, because you might think ‘he’ll settle under Slot’ but then he hasn’t settled under Slot, so you might need a player you don’t think you need.
"So I think it’s OK letting it breathe a little and having some players you can get in late in the window.”
Cole added that he can’t see anyone repeating Aston Villa’s success in making a surprise run to the European places, but did say of Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze “outside of the top six teams he’s the best player in the country” and that “if he’s not in a Champions League team by the end of the season I’d be surprised”.
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Watch Ipswich Town v Liverpool live on TNT Sports and discovery+
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