“It feels like they are struggling” - Manchester United legend Paul Scholes outlines why Arsenal have been ‘disappointing’ this season
Sky Sports pundit Paul Scholes has been disappointed by Arsenal's football this season. The Gunners, who came second to Manchester City in the last two seasons of the Premier League, are again expected to challenge for the title in this campaign.
Scholes claimed that Arsenal's need of the hour was for a new striker in this summer's transfer market. He said on The Overlap (via Daily Mail):
"I sat here at the start of the season and thought Arsenal would win the league, but I’m a little disappointed with their start to the season. Arsenal have been poor this season."
Scholes added:
"You look at all the goals they scored last year and everyone was talking about getting a striker in the summer and you thought they probably didn’t need one. But after five or six games it feels like Arsenal are struggling. It’s not quite clicking."
Arsenal's most recent result was a 2-2 draw against champions Manchester City at the Etihad. The game began with an early lead for the hosts before the Gunners drew level and then raced ahead. However, Leandro Trossard's sending-off at the stroke of half-time pushed the Gunners back into a defensive mindset. City levelled the game with seconds left on the clock.
Arsenal are currently fourth in the league table with 11 points after five games. They have registered three wins and two draws, scoring eight goals in the process (joint sixth-most).
Gary Neville feels Manchester City-Arsenal draw will be a defining moment in the title race
After Sunday's 2-2 draw at the Etihad, Gary Neville gave his opinion on the prospects of Arsenal challenging for the league title this season.
He told Sky (via Mirror):
"I backed Arsenal at the start of the season because I just felt as though when a team's hunting you down, eventually they get there, more often than not, when they're getting closer and closer."
He continued:
"Today felt like a monumental, defining moment in this journey that Arsenal are on, of trying to get to a league title. Two seasons ago they quite simply fell apart in the last 10 games, last season they went so close, and then you think, right, okay, they're learning, they're maturing."
Neville further noted:
"You just think, where will we be in April and May with this game? Will we be going back to that final minute, and what happened with the John Stones goal, will we be thinking that City win the title by one point, and that moment determines it?"
He concluded:
"It's ridiculous, because there will be dropped points, and there will be mistakes, and there will be lots of victories before the end of the season, but it is that type of situation when you're up against Pep Guardiola, he makes you feel that way."
Arsenal and City are both unbeaten in the league at the moment. City lead the table with 13 points after five games.