Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson believes Arsenal's stadium move has affected the club's ability to keep their best players.
He told the Daily Mail: "I wouldn't write off Liverpool or Arsenal. Arsenal had a good start last season and that carried right through until they had injuries. It's been understated what Arsenal did last season because they got injuries at a bad time. In February they lost most of their midfield. Who is to say it wouldn't have been closer if Arsene had kept his players fit?
"I think I read that the debt of the stadium is causing them a problem."
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger won't be sending new signing Aaron Ramsey away on-loan this season.
"He is in my plans," said Wenger. "But like all
the other players, it depends on their performances and quality. You
could see [at Barnet] that some young players will be very close to the
first team.
"The boy chose us because, as a young player, he
thought he had a good opportunity to play. He will get an opportunity
when he is judged to be ready. But he knows there is a lot of
competition."
Manuel Almunia insists he won't be taking anything for granted after being handed the No1 shirt at Arsenal."The only thing that has changed this season is the number of my shirt," Almunia told Arsenal.com. "That has changed, but the situation, I hope, will not change and I can have many, many games in goal for Arsenal.
"My role in the team, I expect, will be to show myself as a good example for people around Arsenal. I would like to be a reference for the young players and help them as best I can. But also I want to give my all to performing for the team."
Arsenal striker Eduardo da Silva could be available for selection next month.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger revealed Eduardo, whose left leg was broken in March, should be back in "three or four weeks".
Arsenal defender Kolo Toure has contracted malaria.
The Sun says Toure, 27, picked up the disease at home in the Ivory Coast and is now a doubt for the start of the new Premier League campaign.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has already lost Alex Hleb to Barcelona, Mathieu Flamini to Milan and Gilberto Silva to Panathanaikos.
And his plans to bring in new faces has been interrupted with the news of Toure's illness.
The player was taken to hospital while on the club's mini pre-season tour of Austria and Hungary.
Panathinaikos signing Gilberto Silva admits he chose to leave Arsenal over concerns for his first team status.
Speaking to Arsenal TV, Gilberto said: "I don't know if I'd have had a chance to play this season and then I had this opportunity [Panathinaikos].
"It's a great opportunity in terms of playing games and also contractually.
"I've got three years there and had just one more year left at Arsenal and I considered all these things."
Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger admits he's seeking a midfield ball-winner.
"We need one more body in there. If we find a reasonable target we will get him. There is no special name," conceded Wenger.
Barcelona striker and Arsenal's Greatest Player Ever Thierry Henry refuses to talk former teammate Emmanuel Adebayor into a move away from Arsenal.
"He had an amazing last season," said Henry. "When you have a season like that a lot of teams will want to get you.
"It is up to him. He knows his mind. I can't talk for him and I don't know what his choice will be, but that's what happens to you when you have a great year."
