Arsenal players are ‘not concerned about winning’ – Invincible rages
An Arsenal invincible claims the club and Mikel Arteta are not showing enough ambition in pursuit of the Premier League title.
The Gunners have started the season with two wins against Manchester United and Leeds, but a potentially costly defeat at rivals Liverpool.
Arteta added eight new signings over the summer in a bid to topple reigning champions Liverpool, who won the league by ten points last season.
Striker Viktor Gyokeres joined from Sporting whilst Arsenal signed Eberechi Eze from Crystal Palace in two high profile arrivals.
Gael Clichy hits out at Arsenal ambition
Former Arsenal defender and invincible Gael Clichy states that he cannot compare the side he played in to Arteta’s current team.
As per The Metro, [10 September], Clichy can see vast differences between Arteta and his former manager at the club Arsene Wenger.
“We don’t talk about how well Arsenal played these days, we talk about how difficult they are to break down or how impressive they are on set pieces,” Clichy commented.
“Don’t get me wrong, it’s fantastic and it’s part of the game you need to exploit but if we talk about what Arsenal used to be and what Arsenal is today, there’s nothing to compare anymore.
‘We have to accept the manager wants something different. And maybe with the wingers and striker we have, we see more of this old-school way.”
Clichy believes the way Arsenal play is down to a “lack of ambition.”
“We also have to tell it like it is – we have also maybe seen a lack of ambition from Arsenal as a club and from Mikel,” Clichy claimed.
“When you look at that game against Liverpool, you can see a team that is not concerned about winning but a team excited not to lose a game.
“This is very subtle but this is a massive difference for a team that is competing for the title. So hopefully this will change with the players they have now.”
At Liverpool, Arsenal attempted just one shot on target and despite their defensive display, Dominik Szoboszlai’s perfect free-kick undone their hard work.
Arsenal enter tough run of fixtures
Arsenal’s ambition will be put to the test in their forthcoming run of fixtures after the international break.
The Gunners welcome Nottingham Forest under new boss Ange Postecoglou to Emirates Stadium before they begin their Champions League journey away to Athletic Bilbao.
A huge clash with Manchester City then awaits in north London before a cup tie at Port Vale and a trip to Newcastle round off September.
Arsenal’s title credentials will be tested without the injured Bukayo Saka and William Saliba, and more will be expected of Gyokeres who has yet to deliver.
The Gunners have struggled to create chances at Man United and Liverpool, so the introduction of Eze into the side may help.
| Eberechi Eze | Stats |
| Appearances | 148 |
| Goals | 34 |
| Assists | 23 |
Eze came off the bench at Anfield and could make his first start for the club against Forest.
Building a relationship with Gyokeres will be key to getting the best out of the striker, whilst Gabriel Martinelli’s form is also a current cause for concern.
Arteta is under pressure and cannot afford to drop any more points behind Liverpool.