Ashley Cole has backed Chelsea to shock everyone and win the Premier League title this season. 

The Blues have enjoyed a fine start to the new season, winning both of their first two games.

Maurizio Sarri’s side swept aside Huddersfield Town 3-0 on the opening day, before edging Arsenal 3-2 in a tense affair at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.

They take on Newcastle this afternoon hoping to make it three wins out of three, and Cole, who spent eight seasons with the club between 2006-2014, says if they keep up their good form, they could emerge as shock contenders for the title this season.

“Chelsea have gone about their business a little bit quiet in terms of having a new manager,” Cole said to ESPN FC.

“They should be fighting for the title, but I don’t think people are [thinking that way] at the minute.

“To get six points from two games, it’s a fantastic start. They’ve just got to keep going.”

Another of Cole’s former clubs, Arsenal, however, have enjoyed a much different start to the new season.

The Gunners have lost both of their opening games against Manchester City and Chelsea, but Cole believes they will improve once new manager Unai Emery has had enough time to implement his ideas at The Emirates.

“I used to watch the games with [Wenger] in the long jacket and you don’t see that any more,” Cole added.

“But times change, people move on, and I think it was his time to go. And obviously they’ve brought in a new manager with new ideas and a new philosophy.

“I think it might take a little bit of time, he has to gel the players together, he’s got a few new players.

“To put his philosophy across and how he wants to play, I don’t think it’s going to happen straight away.”