Arsenal - Manchester City    (won)

I'm taking this early because I believe Arsenal are slight favorites here, and I expect the odds to shorten. Premium tip, but I share this one here for you guys.

Ahead of the season, Arsenal are ranked above Manchester City by most people, and I agree with that assessment. Arsenal have seen a fair amount of transfer activity, with more still to come, but by the time the season starts I'm convinced they'll be stronger, not weaker. That's why it's only natural that they are considered the clear favorites to win the league this year.

I expect both teams to have most of their key players available for this match. City are still City, but there are a few question marks. First and foremost, the manager. The situation probably won't be directly comparable, but most people remember what happened to Manchester United in the years following Ferguson's departure...

Rodri is likely to leave, and even if he stays, he's unlikely to feature in this match. I also doubt Haaland will start after spending most of the past few weeks on holiday.

Finals are always unpredictable, and neither team is likely to field a fully first-choice lineup. Even so, I rate Arsenal a couple of levels above City right now, and I believe they'll be especially motivated to get their hands on this trophy.

I'm backing Arsenal to lift the trophy and see value in the bet down to odds of 1.80.