I hate this saying, it's simply not true.It's nothing more than 'copium' to say they're shit.
They're obviously not. They finished 3 points behind us in Arteta's first season two years ago, they finished 1 point behind us a year ago and then this year they finished 2 points behind us. The gap isn't as much as some people would have you believe.
Now of course, Arteta has been in charge whilst we've had the likes of Mourinho, Mason and Nuno and still not managed to overtake us but they've spent a lot of money now, have a well balanced squad, actually show patterns of play and a young team that can only improve. Palace and Leicester aren't particularly 'hard' games to start a season with and their fixtures only get easier for the next few weeks, but I'm not particularly worried too much.
Conte is a much better manager, I feel we have a much better squad and I can't help but feel we're a harder team to beat in general. I know it's a bit cliché but we'll see what happens when they lose a game. That's when see how a coach and a team can react. When they lost to Palace last season, their was doubt and they then went on to lose to Brighton and Southampton...
I wouldn't be surprised if they finished 5th and I would be particularly amazed if they finished in the top 4.
Young players may improve, they may also remain the same, or even regress...
Look at the amount of players that go all the way through PL academies only to be released and never play a minute of PL football, there's your proof that young players can't only improve.
Wilshere, Dele, Winks, examples from them and us of young players who peaked at a young age and stagnated badly.
If it was as simple as young players improving on a linear trajectory, then every side would just be piling youth teamers into their squads and waiting for them to all become world class...
Of course it's an exaggeration to say they are shit, it is to say that about any side in the PL, even those that end up rock bottom, as they are amongst the 20 best sides in the entire nation. But as far as football banter goes, "relatively speaking you're mildly less good than us" isn't much of a sick burn...