Defending champions Arsenal have quickly been installed as strong favourites to hold on to the Premier League title they won last season.

The Premier League returns for a new campaign, with Arsenal aiming to successfully defend the crown they secured in the previous season.

The Gunners ended a 22-year wait in May when they finished just ahead of Manchester City in what turned out to be Pep Guardiola’s final season at the Etihad Stadium.

Mikel Arteta was the architect of that triumph as the north London club came out on top, capitalising on underwhelming seasons from Manchester United, Liverpool and Tottenham, among others, to finish first.

Arsenal have since strengthened their title-winning group by bringing in Bruno Guimaraes and Christos Tzolis, while both Manchester City and Chelsea have broken the British transfer record to back their respective new managers, Enzo Maresca and Xabi Alonso.

Here is a look at which side football experts believe will lift this season’s Premier League trophy.

The former Manchester United midfielder has tipped Arsenal to retain the title, and to do so comfortably.

“They look strong. They look too strong. They’ll win it again,” he said on the Good, the Bad, and the Football channel.

“Chelsea will be a lot better this season, Tottenham will be better. You’ve got Liverpool in there as well. So it’s going to be tough. Arsenal have the potential to run away with it but behind them we could see a lot of changes.

“I think Arsenal are the favourites to win it but can United nick second off Man City and start to build again and maybe challenge for the title next season?”

Also speaking on the Good, the Bad and the Football programme, the former striker said: “Arsenal only have to stand still and they win the Premier League again.

“There are too many questions over the other teams, there are questions everywhere this season with all the new managers bar Arsenal.

“They will be steady and get mid to late 80 [points] and I don’t think anyone can beat that.

“I think there are more question marks over this season than ever before. Arsenal are just set in stone to win the Premier League.”

“I think City,” he told Football Ramble. “The reason I think City is, they were close last year. I know Pep’s gone. I get that. But when you’ve had the same manager for 10 years, the flip side of what people will say - that it’s hard to [follow in his footsteps] - but [Enzo Maresca] will offer something a little bit new, a little bit fresh.

“With Arsenal I do feel like they will be [focused on] the Champions League. Winning the Champions League for Arsenal is far bigger... if you got to March, April and you were still in the Champions League, that’s where you’d go, ‘Declan Rice, you’re not playing Saturday, you’re playing Tuesday in the Champions League.’ I’m not sure City will have that.”

Former Manchester City defender Danny Mills believes the trophy could return to London.

“Arsenal, you have to say, are probably favourites,” he said.

“They’ve won it and they’ve added to their squad, but it’s very difficult to win it back-to-back. There’s always that feeling of, ‘We’ve done it now.’

“Arsenal have to be the favourites because of their stability and because they’ve added to their squad. But everyone will want to beat them, as they were champions last season.”

Tottenham legend Chris Waddle feels Chelsea, Arsenal’s London rivals, could be the team that pushes them hardest in the title race.

“Arsenal have got the healthiest, biggest and strongest squad, so they have to be the favourites for me, but if there’s one club who could upset the balance at the top of the table this season it’s Chelsea,” he said.

“They’ve got the squad. If Xabi Alonso can sort all their egos out and knit that squad together into a proper team then they’ve got the players to win a lot of football matches, and they haven’t got any European competitions to worry about this year. The Premier League will be their priority with no other distractions so I’d be very surprised if Chelsea are not up there this season.”

Louis Saha has tipped his former club Manchester United to be in the title mix this season in Michael Carrick’s first campaign as permanent manager at Old Trafford.

“Arsenal look like favourites to win the title again but every Premier League season comes in different stages,” the Frenchman said. “Right now, Arsenal have made the best impression and looked a serious team over the summer and in the Community Shield.

“I think their signings will make them more dynamic this year, and that should give them confidence, but Manchester United are getting there too.

“They don’t look like a team who will be dominant at the moment but they could grow into this season with some good games and good performances. They need more goals and a solid back four again, but there are players who haven’t featured yet and more new signings to come.

“By the end of the season, they will be in the conversation for the title, or at least in the top four.”

Former England international Gareth Barry is also backing Arsenal to win successive titles, and the ex-Manchester City midfielder believes his old club are weaker without Rodri.

“I have Arsenal down as huge favourites,” he said.

“I just feel with City, with what’s going on, the threat is less and less this season and Rodri leaving has just added to that. It’s Arsenal’s title to take.

“I still think City will possibly be in second place, but they’ll be less of a threat than they were last year.”