Arsenal's time might be this season: Michael Owen

The former England and Liverpool player on how the game has changed, Premier League predictions, and the Ballon d'Or

- Deepti Patwardhan

(top) Michael Owen was one of the most feared strikers in the world, winning the Ballon d'Or for the world's best player in 2001; and Owen with the Premier League trophy.

Michael Owen always had impeccable timing. On a dull Monday morning in Mumbai, he walks into the room-turned-studio of a luxury hotel, kitted out with the Premier League trophy, overlooking an expanse of the Arabian Sea, right on time for the interview.

Bright and ready, sporting the same haircut he had since he burst on to the scene as a teenage prodigy. He is not a fashion icon or larger than life. Owen may not attract hordes of phone-toting casual football fans, but was a treat for the purists. Standing at 5ft, 8 inches, he took on the best and biggest defenders, on the ground and in the air, with his speed and smarts to become one of the best strikers England (40 goals in 89 appearances) and Liverpool has ever produced.

In Mumbai for Premier League India's engagement week, the 45-year-old sat down for a chat with Lounge. Edited excerpts:

My predictions at the start of the season were, I thought Liverpool would retain the title, and I thought Arsenal were the challengers. Things changed so quickly. About one week ago, that was looking very good, and now, after three losses in three games for Liverpool, one in the Champions League and two in the League, and, all of a sudden, everybody goes into panic mode.

Or fans do, anyway. I'm sure Arne Slot's not in panic mode. It's a long season.

There's a lot more changes than I thought there would be at the start of the season. (Darwin) Nunez leaving, (Luis) Diaz leaving, and then the tragedy with Diogo Jota. All of a sudden, Liverpool were in a different position with their attacking options. I understand that they needed to go and try to bring a couple of new players in.