Former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba is backing former team-mate Petr Cech to win the Premier League title with his new club Arsenal Former Chelsea striker Didier Drogba is backing former team-mate Petr Cech to win the Premier League title with his new club Arsenal

Chelsea legend Didier Drogba has backed Arsenal to win the Premier League this season.

Drogba - speaking to promote his autobiography 'Commitment' - feels Manchester City will be strong contenders but has offered his support to Arsene Wenger's side, who have his former Blues team-mate Petr Cech in goal.

"I think Manchester City will be as strong as they have been in the last few years," Drogba told Sky Sports News HQ.

"Unfortunately Chelsea are too far [behind in the title race], so I will go for my friend Petr Cech at Arsenal."

When asked if he thinks the Gunners have enough strength in depth to win the league, Drogba simply said: "They have got Petr Cech!"

Drogba backs Arsenal - and former team-mate Petr Cech - to win the league

As for Chelsea's dreadful start to the season, which leaves them 15th in the table having already lost seven matches, Drogba admits Jose Mourinho's side find themselves in an unfamiliar situation.

But despite their current problems, the Ivory Coast international remains confident they can turn their season around, with back-to-back victories over Norwich in the league and Maccabi Tel Aviv in the Champions League helping to boost confidence.

"It's a different situation for club, manager and players," added Drogba.

"When you have won the league the season before and you find yourselves in the last three or four teams in the table after four or five games, it is a shock.

"I know the players and the manager have the ability to change this.

Didier Drogba celebrates winning the Premier League trophy with Chelsea

"They have won two consecutive games in the last two days, so I think it is kind of a new start."

Drogba scored 164 goals in 282 appearances during his two spells at Stamford Bridge, leaving him well-placed to pass judgement on current Premier League strikers.

England international Jamie Vardy will break Ruud van Nistelrooy's record for scoring in 10 consecutive Premier League matches if he is on target against Manchester United in Saturday Night Football.

Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy must prove himself at the 'next level', according to Drogba

Despite that impressive tally, Drogba believes Vardy would need to score consistently for one of the division's bigger names before his qualities can be accurately assessed.

"He is one of the most efficient at the moment. Scoring goals in a team like Leicester is one thing - but you have to go to the next level and score," Drogba said.

"What he is doing right now is fantastic, though."