Previously, Owen had predicted that Pep Guardiola's departure, along with the exits of key players such as Rodri, Bernardo Silva, and John Stones, would hinder Man City's title ambitions this season. However, he has now changed his mind and believes Man City are capable of challenging Arsenal.

"Honestly, their performances have impressed me greatly; to be frank, I had my doubts before the season started.

"You have to understand that the club lost two hugely influential figures in football: Guardiola and Rodri. On top of that, with Bernardo Silva, John Stones, and others leaving, it means over twenty Premier League titles have walked out of the dressing room.

"This is a massive loss for the club. How many teams continue to thrive after a long-serving, successful manager departs? His successor almost always faces an uphill battle.

"At that point, there were plenty of reasons to believe Man City would struggle. Despite still having excellent players and having invested heavily in the transfer market, their rival is Arsenal—a well-oiled machine that just won the league title.

"Initially, I thought Man City would struggle to compete for the title. Don't get me wrong, I still believe Arsenal are the hardest team to beat, but Man City's performances have genuinely surprised me; they look like they have every chance to be in the title race."

Owen continued: "I think Man City's decision in appointing Maresca, essentially continuing the club's established system, was a masterstroke.

"Although Maresca has managed other clubs, he previously worked at Man City, some players know him, he's familiar with the club, and he understands the entire tactical system and every aspect of it.

"The team's style of play has transferred seamlessly, which is really smart. To be honest, their on-pitch performances have impressed me time and again."

While Owen still backs Arsenal for the title, his former Liverpool teammate Steven Gerrard has completely changed his view. After witnessing Man City's strong performance over the weekend, Gerrard now believes Man City are genuine title contenders.

"Before the season started, I was backing Arsenal to continue their strong form. But now that the league is six or seven games in, I'd back Man City. After watching their match yesterday, I'm going with Man City. This team is simply too strong, and looking at their bench, it's even more evident."

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