Arsenal are not mentally strong enough to win the title and will finish third at best, according to Danny Higginbotham.
Arsenal have picked up one point from six in the past week, having been thrashed by Liverpool 5-1 and came out with a point at home against Manchester United on Wednesday night.
But despite those two poor results, the Gunners still remain in the hunt for the title, with both Chelsea and Manchester City unable to take advantage, and Arsene Wenger’s side currently sit in second place – one point behind Jose Mourinho’s men.
However, former Stoke, Sunderland and Southampton defender Higginbotham believes Arsenal are mentally weak and for that reason doesn’t believe they stand a chance to win the title:
‘Arsenal are mentally weak. They always get to this stage and they’re doing all right and then they just fall flat on their face. They haven’t won any cup for nine years. They’ll finish third at best.’
The 35-year-old, who currently plays for Chester, went on to say:
‘There’s no doubt about it, it’s going to be Manchester City and Chelsea first and second. Whichever way it will go it’s going to be between the two of them and Arsenal will finish third because mentally, when it comes into this part of the season, they’re not strong enough.
‘They’re missing the real scrappers and the real mentally strong players, like [Patrick] Vieira, like [Emmanuel] Petit, even [Thierry] Henry and people at the back.
‘They haven’t got the mentality to carry it through at this moment in time. They need to get some of those [type of] players in.’
Of course Chelsea and Manchester City are favourites to win it because of their squad depth and recent history. But with only 12 games to go, I still believe we have a chance of winning the title, but only if the team can turn their fortunes around and quickly.
We have a very talented squad that is capable of winning trophies, and I don’t think it’s the team that are mentally weak, I think its more Wenger who is. This probably sounds harsh but it’s the Frenchman who usually falters at this stage of the season, either by not strengthening the side during the transfer windows or changing the team constantly.
We have what it takes to win the title and I for one will be disappointed if we fail to do so – only because we have been challenging for so long during the season. Many fans would take a third place finish – having not expected us to be up there fighting for the title. But we need to win it this season so we can get the likes of Higginbotham off our case!
Is Higginbotham right – Are Arsenal mentally weak?
Let us know what you think below
