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Have we enough ‘grit’ in midfield to win the title?

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Arsene WengerFollowing the embarrassing 5-1 defeat at Anfield to Liverpool, Arsenal legend Lee Dixon believes Arsene Wenger’s side won’t win the Premier League title because they lack ‘grit’ in midfield.

Arsenal were humbled by a resurgent Liverpool side who came out flying and killed the game off by netting four goals in the first 20 minutes.

The result leaves the Gunners in second place, one point behind league leaders Chelsea and one in front of City who sit in third.

And although Dixon says the heavy loss was just a blip, the Englishman feels Wenger’s side needs to toughen up in the middle of the park if they are to ever win the Premier League again.

The 49-year-old, who made over 600 appearances and won nine major trophies with Arsenal from 1987 to 2002, told talkSPORT’s Call Collymore show:

‘Everybody has been waiting for Arsenal to fall because over recent years they have done, but I’ve seen a difference in them this year, which has been positive.

‘I’d still like to give them credit and say this is a blip but, having said that, they’ve got some massively important and difficult games around the corner, so time will tell.

‘But I’m not so sure they’ve got the grit in the centre of midfield which you need to championships.’

It was definitely a result none of us expected and a performance we won’t to forget about quickly.

But I think Dixon has a point – we do lack grit and fight in midfield. Our only players who show this week in, week out, is Mathieu Flamini and Tomas Rosicky – the rest just don’t seem to want to get their hands dirty and fight for the cause. They are all willing to go forward but are reluctant (at times) to get back, and this was just one of many reasons why we didn’t bag a positive result yesterday against Liverpool.

However, I wouldn’t rule us out of the title this season. We have done extremely well to be where we are with what we have at our disposal, but Wenger should have signed one or two players during January to strengthen any weak areas we may have.

It’s still all to play for but the team need to be more spirited from now until the end of the season if they are to have any chance of ending their trophy drought.

Do you agree with Dixon? Do we have what it takes in midfield to see us over the line and win the title?

Let us know your thoughts below

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5 comments

  • Cesc vision says:

    Difference between willingness & ability. Flamini & Rosicky have confidence & experience to read danger & start moving quickly enough; but, apart from Ramsey, we have no one strong enough to barge someone aside and take the ball off them.

    Adding that would help if they also have the passing technique required for our game…

  • Alan wix says:

    It is interesting that last year’s target for moronic booing is this year,s biggest loss Yes Aaron Ramsey top tackler in the Premiership until his injury and regular goal scorer is a huge loss and would make up for lightweights Wiltshire,Ozil and Corzola in being aggressive in that area,sadly age is catching up with Arteta and Flamini needs to channel his ability to win the ball.

  • Apesville says:

    Thank god Diarby is back soon.

  • James Cooke says:

    We didn’t play as badly as people are saying. We just got hit my a locomotive. I don’t think I’ve seen a display like that in the first 20mins of a game. I doubt anyone could have coped with that. That said I think we saw some players who need a real kick……Ozil comes to mind, maybe Per should give him another rollicking. We are a point off top lets get back on track.

  • bad deal,kenya says:

    our team lacks enough steel plus our game is too predictable.
    Any opponent who plays narrow in the middle and pressing so hard and man playing the cover infont of our back four with real physicallity does us the harm
    AW prefers the same methods over and over again and expecting different results and why the hell does he take too long to grasp a fact .
    playing carzola in the centre always wins us games and that was evident since the second half of last season.
    Rest ozil now

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