Cole sees tight top four

Chelsea star sees Gunners and Reds getting closer

Last updated: 12th August 2008

chelsea joe cole liverpool second leg

Cole: Tight title battle

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Joe Cole feels Arsenal and Liverpool will close the gap on Chelsea and Manchester United this season.

Cole still feels United and Chelsea are best placed again in the Premier League this year, as they have something extra.

But the England star can see Arsenal and Liverpool being much closer this time around.

"Manchester United and Chelsea have learnt how to win games in different ways, but Liverpool and Arsenal are different," he told the Daily Mirror.

"They are both great sides on their day, but maybe they don't win enough games when they don't play well.

"Both are improving though, and they'll push us all the way this season."

Arsenal shock

Cole admits he was shocked that Arsenal were challenging Chelsea and United for much of last season.

"It did surprise me. The way they started was incredible," he said.

"But people were talking about them like they were the Harlem Globetrotters.

"This season, with a bigger squad and more experience, they'll be stronger.

"Obviously Cesc Fabregas is their top player, but I was really impressed with the way Theo Walcott finished the season.

"If people aren't demanding him to be in the England team, they're writing him off.

"But I think he'll develop into a world-class player if people just give him some space to express himself."

Cole also still sees United as the main cause of concern.

"The emergence of Ronaldo as the best player in the world took them to the next level but they can score from anywhere," he continued.

"Rooney, Giggs, Tevez, Nani, Anderson, Scholes, Carrick...the list goes on.

"I was talking to Michael Carrick about their change of system last season and they work a lot on movement and rotation.

"Different players will pop up in different positions, which makes it so hard to play against."