Former Premier League manager Tony Pulis believes defending champions Arsenal have a key advantage over their rivals in this season’s title race.

Arsenal, who won their first league title since 2004 last season, bolstered their squad over the summer with the impressive signings of Bruno Guimaraes, Ezri Konsa and Christos Tzolis.

And Mikel Arteta’s side have made a perfect start to the new season, most recently coming from behind to beat London rivals Chelsea 2-1 on Sunday.

The Gunners currently sit second in the table at this early stages of the season, with Manchester City top having also won their first three matches of the season.

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It was a summer of transition for last season’s runners-up, with Pep Guardiola leaving the Etihad along with key players Rodri, John Stones and Bernardo Silva.

But new boss Enzo Maresca has made a bright start in the City dugout, with new signings Iliman Ndiaye and Enzo Fernandez set to add more quality after making their debuts at the weekend.

But despite that, former Stoke City boss Pulis believes City and other potential rivals are still some way behind Arsenal and is confident that the Gunners’ defensive set-up will give them a huge advantage as the season wears on.

‘I think the biggest difference between Arsenal and the other teams at the top at the moment is that Arsenal look very, very solid behind the ball,’ Pulis told football.london.

‘And when they lose the ball, they get back as quick as anybody else and regain their shape.

‘I think, [Mikel] Arteta …the coaching there has been fantastic. They go forward and can go forward with a lot of pace, but as soon as they lose that ball, they’re back behind the ball like you can’t believe it.

‘They look a team that’s very difficult to break down. If you look at Chelsea the other day, if you look at Man City, Liverpool, they still look a little bit vulnerable on the counter attacks.

‘I don’t think Arsenal do. I think Arsenal are well, well set.

‘The season can sway so much on things that are out of your control – injured players, refereeing decisions that can change the course of the tide. But they look very, very, very good at the moment.’

Elsewhere, former Premier League winner Alan Shearer insisted that Sunday’s victory over Chelsea only reinforced his view that Arsenal will comfortably win the league this season.

‘They were really, really impressive,’ Shearer said on The Rest is Football podcast after Arsenal’s victory over Chelsea. ‘I was really, really impressed with that performance and their reaction after going behind.

‘We all said Arsenal would win the league before the season started and everything I’ve seen just reinforces that opinion. They’ve been brilliant, Arsenal.

‘The defence are brilliant. Obviously they get a lot of help from what’s in front of them but Arsenal as a defensive unit are so solid.

‘When you do get through their midfield you’ve got that back four that work so well together and are so tight and then a brilliant goalkeeper.

‘It’s probably the best defence in world football so that’s a brilliant base to work from.’

Asked who he sees as Arsenal’s biggest rivals for the Premier League title, Shearer added: ‘Chelsea and Man City. I’d probably go with Man City.

‘Manchester United are not good enough defensively to be anywhere near challenging the teams we’ve already mentioned.’

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