Alan Smith has delivered his verdict on the coming season's pecking order, and it lands somewhere between a compliment and a shrug for Manchester City.
The Sky Sports commentator sees Enzo Maresca's side finishing second, above Chelsea, but behind Arsenal. It is the sort of prediction that will satisfy neither the Etihad nor Stamford Bridge, though it at least spares City the indignity of being talked down by a former Arsenal striker.
"I still see City as a better all-round outfit. I still think City will finish ahead of Chelsea. So I think Chelsea will get a Champions League spot, but maybe not finish in a runners-up position."
Smith's reasoning is straightforward enough: City are, in his view, the more complete team. That Chelsea are expected to be in the Champions League places but not second is a small victory for the Blues over their London rivals, if nothing else.
Opta's numbers tell a similar story
The prediction aligns with Opta's projected final table, which has Arsenal top on 77.92 expected points. City sit second on 72.29, with Liverpool third (61.49) and Chelsea fourth (59.62). Manchester United, for those keeping score, are tipped for fifth on 56.60.
Those figures suggest a comfortable gap between City and the chasing pack, even if the title itself is expected to head to north London again. Smith, like most pundits, is backing Arsenal to retain their crown. The Gunners and City are the only sides yet to drop points this campaign, which makes the early-season table look like a two-horse race.
Maresca has not had an overly difficult beginning to life at the Etihad in terms of his opponents in the Premier League. Bournemouth at home, Crystal Palace away and Coventry at home is not a particularly tough run. The fixtures have been kind. The derby this weekend will not be.
United have had a pretty poor start, losing to Hull, beating Ipswich and drawing against Everton. Meetings between the two rivals don't always go by the formbook, but Maresca will be keen to ingratiate himself to the City faithful by getting a big win at Old Trafford — a venue where his predecessor, Pep Guardiola, won on no less than five occasions during his tenure.
Smith's verdict, then, is a cautious endorsement of City's quality without much faith in their title credentials. For a club that has grown accustomed to finishing first, second place is a strange sort of compliment. But it beats being told you will finish below Chelsea.