Former Gunner John Hartson has written off Arsenal’s title chances this season and reckons the north London club would do well to secure a top four finish, according to talkSPORT.
Since Arsene Wenger’s arrival back in 1996, Arsenal have never finished out of the Champions League qualification places – something quite remarkable in itself.
However, Hartson, who had 2 years under Wenger’s management, believes the lack of serious summer spending and the uncertainty over the futures of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri will see the Gunners slip further behind Manchester United, Chelsea and even mega-rich Manchester City.
The Welshman recently told Stubs and Quinny on talkSPORT:
‘My thoughts on Arsenal are pretty much the same as I thought last season. I didn’t think they had that top, top striker to go and score 25, 30 goals to get Arsenal right in the mix. The Fabregas and Nasri thing is dragging as well.’
‘I do like Arsene Wenger as a person and he’s done well at Arsenal, not in recent years but over the piece he’s been good for the club. But I just feel if they get into the top four with other teams getting as strong as they are, with Manchester City, Man United and Chelsea spending and then you have Tottenam and Liverpool to compete with, I think top four is probably the best Arsenal fans can hope for.’
‘That is not good enough for an Arsenal fan. Arsenal want to be talking about winning titles and things, not finishing in the top four. But I think if they do finish in the top four, it will be a good season for them.’
Personally, I agree with Hartson.
I believe the lack of movement from Arsenal in the market so far is very worrying, especially if we continue to sell our players and not replace them.
To be honest a top four finish would be admirable this season, especially when you have 6 teams competing for a Champions League spot. But, like Hartson stated, Arsenal fans (well most of them anyway) want their club to be competing for trophies and, more importantly, winning them – not just going to the final and blowing it, as we have done in previous seasons.
I believe we do have a chance of winning the Premier League title, but it all depends on who stays and goes and if Wenger is willing to make a few changes to his tactics and transfer policies.
Do you agree with Hartson’s comments?
Give us your thoughts
Like what you read? Then follow me on Twitter – http://twitter.com/Gunnersphere
Visit and Join our Facebook page, click HERE to do so.
Gunnersphere is currently looking for new writers to join the squad. Contact via twitter or at Gunnersphere@snack-media.com for further details.
I remember some saying the same when we lost Viera, ended up 15 points in front of Manure and winning the league. I’m sure Hartson like Graham is in the pocket of the Deans….
Believe you will love it.
— (www)( bestniceshoes)(com) —-
exquisite watches shirts,bags,hat and the decorations.We have good reputation, fashion products,favourable price.
LV Muffler $ 5.99
LV Bags $ 19.9
LV Wallet $ 6.55
Armani Glasses $ 5.99
LV Belt $ 6.9
Buy addresses-
(www)( bestniceshoes)(com)
Erm… we didn’t win the league after Vieira left, mate…
me think so 2 if benzema,mata n jagielka are not on the wei
agree entirely…..i dont think wenger is serious about winning the league…unless he is that deluded to believe this squad can do it!.
we need 3 major signings a top striker, a centre back and a playmaker if cesc and nasri leave.
Wenger doesnt appear to be determined to buy them so i guess we will have to struggle.
Wenger also believes that champs league qualification every year is success in itself…he has lowered his sights and that for the mighty arsenal fc is a disaster.
I have to agree with this guy, unless AW gets his finger (and cheque book) out. Something has got to happen soon or even a top 4 finish is going to be a struggle. Hartson probably knows what he’s talking about.
An idiotic blog and if Hartson DID forecast 4th place, he’s also an idiot.
Let’s come down to earth and analyse the situation.
There is a whole month to go in the Summer Window.Arsenal have the money and it’s pretty certain they will spend. Players have left and new blood will be joining. Tactics will change after the failings of last term. With so many imponderables, how on earth can ANYONE try to predict, AT THIS STAGE, how a team will fare next season?
Far better to give suppoert to our Club instead of spouting defeatist nonsense.
Nicky… well said, a bit of common sense to counter the stupid remarks of Hartson.
And maybe if we just close our eyes and wish really, really hard, we’ll win the quadruple and achieve world peace.
Supporting the club only gets you so far, lads. Do you think if 90,000 fans put their 100% support behind Swansea that it would make their players good enough and their manager tactically astute enough to win the league? Of course, it wouldn’t. The gulf in talent and strength between us and United has expanded this summer and Wenger the coward looks like he is dithering in the transfer market as always.
man u have got (Giggs,scholes,Van der sar,brown)out and (Gea,jones,young) in not really an improvement.
Chelsea have an in experienced manager,a £50 million striker who has only scored 1 more goal then me(lol),injured essien no major signings,and out of form team and cant work as a team
man city have a player(balotelli)who doesnt take matches seriously tevez who is leaving aguero who isnt going to settle in pl(youll see)and clichy
who is decent an improvement but still not good enough for Arsenal who have Gervinho who impressed already,on form Van Persie,on form wilshere,ramsey back from injury who can play very good on his day(may i remind you of man u 1-0),VERMALEAN who if you watch arsenal play can be a diffrence for ANY team,yes fabregas is going to leave but we are buying MATA who is nearly as good,a defender most likely Cahill so you decide who will win
DAN AKA The Truth,
You may well be right but my point was “How can anyone predict Arsenal will finish 4th” AT THIS TIME OF THE WINDOW…..with more buying and selling to be done PLUS a whole season to come.
This sort of forecasting brings the entire union of psychics into disrepute and my Gran is absolutely livid.
That’s true, Nicky, but when I heard Hartson say this, I inferred that he was talking about if Wenger continued not to spend. Given Wenger’s last few transfer windows, can we really expect to make the most of the last month of the transfer window? I really hope that I’m wrong. One thing is for sure: if Wenger had made three strong signings in the first weeks of the window, we would not have been hearing all these stories of doom and gloom.
persimists kill the spirit within the young team.all they need is confidence building rather than giving them no chance from the start.self fulfilling prophecy as a result of being labeled nonachievers.
Dan, I truly believe, for the first time (in a long time) that in THIS Window, Wenger is going to buy and buy heavily. He has virtually admitted such intention, something he has never done before.
The way Arsenal have always operated on transfers has been (a)very cautiously and (b) secretly and I feel we fans will always have to accept this, however frustrating it is.
I invite all Gooners to await the 1st September when the Window will have closed and all will be revealed. And then in January we will have a month of wholesale transfer rumours to cope with all over again.
Supporting Arsenal is not for the fainthearted and never will be!
I hope you’re right, Nicky! I don’t think I’ll have any fingers let alone fingernails by the time this window ends lol!