EPL 2016/17: Ian Wright claims Arsenal "do not have what it takes" to win the Premier League
Arsenal legend Ian Wright has claimed that his former club cannot win the Premier League title this season as they are “not quite there yet.”
The Gunners currently lie just three points behind their north-London rivals Chelsea and have been in terrific form of late. Having gotten through “Arsenovember”- the name given to the month of November by Arsenal fans as it is the ill-fated period in which the club's season begins to falter every year - without a single defeat in the Premier League, they have managed to find their footing again.
Alexis Sanchez continues to be instrumental for the Gunners and was at it again on Saturday, scoring three goals in the space of 14 minutes in a 5-1 romp of a hapless West Ham side.
Theo Walcott is also in the form of his life and with the rest of the team firing on all cylinders, many fans and pundits have tipped the Gunners to finally make a sustainable push for the Premier League title – a trophy they have not won since the 2003-04 season, when they became the first team to win the Premier League without suffering a single defeat throughout the 38 games.
Despite Arsenal’s recent ascendance, former striker Ian Wright is not convinced that the club have what it takes to win the League based on the way fierce rivals Chelsea have started the season.
Also read: Dimitri Payet on Arsene Wenger's radar
Speaking to BT Score, Wright said: “No. I don’t think so especially after how Chelsea played. They seem to have the momentum at the moment.
“I haven’t seen anything from Arsenal’s last three or four games to make me think they’re there yet.”
Chelsea are flying this season under Antonio Conte, and have been glued to the top of the table lately. A clash with title rivals Manchester City was set to test their resolve, but a resounding 3-1 victory has reserved their top spot. As in Arsenal’s case with Alexis Sanchez, Chelsea too have had a go-to man in Diego Costa.
Eden Hazard has also returned to the devastating form that earned him the PFA Player of the Year award just two seasons ago, while N’Golo Kante has been as crucial a cog as he was to Leicester City’s overachievers of last season.
Conte has been a key figure in reviving the Blues, who endured a torrid season last year having just won the League under Jose Mourinho the previous season. The club’s stunning recent form – 8 wins in their last 8 games, with 22 goals scored and just 2 conceded – has even led Arsenal legend Emmanuel Petit to agree with Wright, admitting that he is not convinced by the Gunners’ defence.
Speaking to BT Score, Petit said: “They’re missing a couple of players. Defensively, I’m not confident.
“Last year, they were performing defensively well. I think they’re dropping points because of their defence.”
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