Former Arsenal midfielder and manager George Graham does not believe Jose Mourinho's Manchester United can challenge for the Premier League title.
The Red Devils host Arsenal at Old Trafford this weekend, but Graham thinks that even a win over the Gunners would not make them contenders.
"I don't see United in the title race, even if they get a result on Saturday," Graham told Goal.
"A few weeks ago there was talk of United and Everton being added to the mix, but from what I've seen I think it will be a tall order this season.
"Even if Arsenal win at Old Trafford, Arsene won't get carried away because there will be a lot of jockeying for positions going on for months to come.
"It is going to be nip-and-tuck this season. For me it is between Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal. They will all go on a run of good results and then have a hiccup. It is good for the Premier League, but not for United."
It is 10 years since Arsenal beat United at Old Trafford in the Premier League, but Graham feels that the record could be broken due to Mourinho's failure to select his best XI.
"Arsenal will rightly start as favourites. They've not lost since the opening day of the season, are scoring plenty of goals and look to have tightened up at the back. They've been on a good run and deserve to go top if they win," the 71-year-old said.
"They look much more physically and mentally strong this season than they have over the past few seasons.
"Manchester United are still a team in progress. Jose Mourinho is an absolutely outstanding manager but I don't think he knows his best side yet, or at least he hasn't got it on the pitch.
"I'm not sure United's Paul Pogba and Zlatan Ibrahimovic have got going yet in the same way that Arsenal's summer signings Granit Xhaka and Shkodran Mustafi have done."
However, Graham, who lifted the league title with the Gunners as both player and manager, thinks that Mourinho has shown before that he is capable of winning difficult matches.
"Mourinho has a great record against Arsenal and has got under their skin a bit. He is a very clever tactician and I'm sure he will have something up his sleeve to win the game," he continued.
"But it is on the pitch where it is going to count and I think Arsenal will be too strong.
"That does not mean that there will not be more intensity, though. There is some history between the two clubs and the two managers, but there are other teams emerging - City, Liverpool and Chelsea. So I don't think it is a bad thing. It is so good for the Premier League. I am so excited with the games I've seen and those still to come."
Graham is also refusing to get carried away with Arsenal's impressive start to the season, which sees them just two points off the top of the table after 11 games.
A win for Arsene Wenger's side on Saturday would see them move seven points ahead of United, but Graham is fearful of Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City in the race for the title.
"Arsenal have got a very strong squad. I don't know what their best team is because they change it so much, but that isn't necessarily a bad thing," the Scotland international said.
"Arsene has faith in more than just his starting 11 and that has not always been the case. It is important because there will be times when injuries and suspensions will take hold and that has been a problem in the past.
"Despite a positive start to the campaign, I don't think it means they've got a better chance than last season, for instance. Arsenal are a better outfit, but the competition is stronger than it has ever been. The teams I mentioned will all have a go. It is not going to be easy."
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