Former Arsenal defender William Gallas believes Manchester City are the only team capable of challenging Arsenal for the Premier League title this season, despite Brighton's impressive start to the campaign.

According to a report by Metro on Tuesday, 10 November 2026, Gallas expects Arsenal and Manchester City to emerge as the leading contenders for the title, even though Pep Guardiola's side have struggled in recent weeks.

Arsenal moved five points clear at the top of the Premier League table following their 1-0 victory over Hull City on Saturday. Meanwhile, Manchester City suffered their third consecutive league defeat, dropping to third position.

Brighton have taken advantage of City's poor run to move into second place after securing a 2-0 win against Brentford. Fabian Hurzeler's team have also beaten both Arsenal and City in the league this season.

The Seagulls have scored more goals than any other side after 10 matches, while only Arsenal have conceded fewer goals.

However, Gallas remains cautious about Brighton's ability to maintain their impressive performances throughout the season, particularly during the difficult second half of the campaign.

Speaking to Tribal Football, the former defender said: "It will be very interesting to see if they can maintain that performance until the end of the season, but we know the second part is always the most difficult time for any club."

He added: "Right now, it looks like only those two teams, Arsenal and Manchester City, are really going to fight for the title."

Gallas also praised Arsenal's defensive organisation, highlighting their ability to limit opponents' scoring opportunities. Mikel Arteta's side have conceded just five goals in the league this season.

The former Chelsea and Arsenal defender believes the team's defensive strength goes beyond the quality of its backline, pointing to the collective contribution of the forwards and midfielders.

"We talk about the defenders and how good they are, but I think we have to speak about the whole team, because the first players who have to defend are the striker and the wingers."

"They are doing their job properly, and that allows the defenders to defend without having too much pressure on their shoulders."

Arsenal will return from the international break looking to extend their winning run to six consecutive Premier League matches when they travel to face Newcastle United at St James' Park.