Arsenal legend backs Mikel Arteta to match rarely-seen title feat already achieved by Man Utd and Chelsea

LEE DIXON has backed his former club Arsenal to achieve back-to-back Premier League titles for the first time ever. And the Gunners legend is convinced Mikel Arteta’s side hasn’t even hit its peak yet. Lee Dixon has backed Arsenal to win back-to-back Premier League titles Credit: Getty Mikel Arteta led Arsenal to their first league title in 22 years last season Credit: Alamy Dixon, 62, won the league four times during his 14-year stint at Arsenal, but never managed to achieve consecutive titles. In fact, only Manchester United, Chelsea and Man City have pulled off back-to-back title successes in the Premier League era. Sign up for the Arsenal newsletter Thank you! Dream Team is back, free, and there’s £100,000 up for grabs! However, Dixon thinks that could all change this season after Arteta put Arsenal back on top last term. The retired full-back told SunSport, via BestBettingSites, Dixon said: “I actually do think they can, because I think the biggest thing everybody talks about is how difficult it is to get over the line the first time. “And that is true, in hindsight. Going back over my time, getting over the line was easier – we got over the line in my first full season at Arsenal. And also Arsene’s first full season in 1998, we won the Double. “But Arteta has been in a position where the lead-up to winning the league has been so highlighted and drawn out based on their previous results of finishing second every year. “The build-up has been progressive, and finally they did it last year – and I see this team as not even peaked yet.” Arsenal finished seven points above second-placed Man City last term as they ended their 22-year wait for a Prem title. Most read in Sport CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS Boss Arteta has already spoken about trying to take the team to a “different dimension” this season and knows that means making marquee signings. Gunners chiefs have already splashed over £100million to bring in Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle and Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge this summer. For Dixon, the new arrivals make Arsenal’s chance of repeating last season’s success even greater. He added: “I do believe they’ve got a real opportunity to win back-to-back Premier League titles. “Obviously, with the signings, Guimaraes is a wonderful signing for Arsenal based on what we needed at times last year. “You look at the midfield and you go, ‘yeah, Declan Rice is brilliant at what he does, but do we have somebody who can create and set the team up?’ “Yes, with Odegaard, but at times with him being out injured, we’ve struggled in that department. “I think Guimaraes really fills that gap, so I’m very hopeful and quite optimistic about them going back-to-back.” Lee Dixon won four league titles as an Arsenal player, but never managed consecutive successes Credit: Rex Features Arsenal have signed Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle for £75m Credit: Reuters Dixon didn’t just win the league while at Arsenal, but was part of both of the Gunners’ 1998 and 2002 double-winning sides. Arsenal were within touching distance of a treble last season, losing the Carabao Cup final to Manchester City and the Champions League final on penalties to Paris Saint-Germain. Dixon’s domestic doubles came thanks to success in the Premier League and the FA Cup. Arsenal crashed out of the FA Cup in the quarter-finals last season, losing 2-1 to Championship side Southampton. Dixon reckons that a domestic double could still be out of reach for Arsenal this year, suggesting they have a better chance of winning the Premier League again than the FA Cup. He added: “I think they’ve got a bigger chance of winning the Premier League again than the FA Cup. “The FA Cup is always a few balls in the air, because even though you’re playing fewer games and it’s theoretically easier to win, you could draw Manchester United in the third round or Liverpool in the fourth. “It can be really difficult. Because they’ve got over the line in the league, I think they’ve got a really good chance of doing that again. “The FA Cup still has a bit of luck involved, but the power they’ve got throughout every department suggests they’ll go deep in all the competitions they’re competing in.” The Gunners also signed Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge from £34m Credit: Getty Comment now