Kenya President William Ruto has backed Arsenal to challenge to win the Premier League this season, Afrosport reports.
The Gunners have finished second in each of the past three seasons, coming closet to the title during the 2023-24 campaign when they ended just two points behind eventual champions Manchester City.
Mikel Arteta’s side are currently top of the Premier League table with 19 points from eight matches, winning six, draw once and losing once and suffered one defeat.
Ruto received the Premier League trophy at State House, in Nairobi on Friday as part of the 2025-26 trophy tour, and told Arsenal’s rivals to beware of their title-winning credentials this time around.
“Now, as many of you know, I am a proud Arsenal fan. It is true the last two decades have not been easy for us; we’ve had our share of heartbreaks and near-misses,” he said.
“But if you have been watching the Gunners lately, then you know the style – the swagger, the spirit; it’s all coming alive again.
“So to our friends in the EPL and across Europe, watch out, Arsenal are back. More so, our Man United fans, we are on a roll, but I really sympathise with them.”
We are a country full of cutting-edge sport talents that belong to the global stage.
That is why we are building modern sports infrastructure across Kenya to nurture talents and unlock opportunities for our youth to grow.
At State House, Nairobi, celebrated the arrival of the… pic.twitter.com/mndXLgYFyz
— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) October 24, 2025
Ruto went on to describe the huge impact the Premier League has had on Kenya, highlighting players like Victor Wanyama that played for Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur, while pledging his commitment to developing infrastructure that will nurture football talent.
“Kenya is, without a doubt, a football-crazy nation. We don’t just watch the Premier League; we live it, breathe it, and argue about it every weekend as if we owned the clubs ourselves,” he added.
“Whether you are red, blue, or sky blue; whether you are Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool or Man City, you can feel the energy across our towns, estates, and villages every day there is a match.
“Football runs deep in our national story from the dazzling brilliance of the late Joe Kadenge to Victor Wanyama, who flew our flag high in the Premier League, and McDonald Mariga, the first Kenyan to win the UEFA Champions League.
“My administration is deeply committed to nurturing talent and unlocking opportunities for our youth. We are investing in sports academies, community facilities, and the creative economy, because we know that sport is not just about competition; it’s about empowerment, unity, and national pride.”
Kenya is gearing up to host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations along with East African neighbours Uganda and Tanzania.
