If finishing below Leicester City in 2016 wasn’t bad enough, being topped by The Foxes in 2020 could be just as embarrassing for Arsenal.
While Leicester were the only side to deny Arsenal the Premier League over three years ago, the club may now be on a more level playing field with The Gunners not finishing in the top four since 2015/16 and The Foxes staving off relegation, going through four different permanent managers and spending a lot of money as Unai Emery’s side pay the consequences for missing out on the Champions League.
And that is certainly the opinion of ex-footballer Clinton Morrison, who has tipped Brendan Rodgers’ men to usurp Arsenal in the league next season:
“Leicester will finish above Arsenal.” ????
“I think Arsenal will struggle.” ????
“They’ve done some great business & brought in some good players.” ????@MorrisonClinton says #LCFC will beat #Arsenal to a top six finish ????
Will The Foxes finish higher that Arsenal this season? ???? pic.twitter.com/P776lybd3a
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) July 15, 2019
Speaking on TalkSPORT, Morrison made the bold claim insisting: “Personally, I think Arsenal will struggle. I think the team to watch out for this year – who I think will finish above Arsenal – is Leicester.
“I think Leicester have done great business, they’ve brought in some really good players. I think Leicester will have a really good season.”
If last season’s results are anything to go by, the gulf between the two clubs may not be as large as the 18 points setting them apart in the league may suggest.
Leicester’s comfortable 3-0 win over Arsenal remains their most recent victory – one of five in Rodgers’ ten games in charge since taking over from Claude Puel in February.
And having spent over £70m on incomings so far – compared to Arsenal’s £6m – there is certainly more to suggest that strides to decrease that gulf are being taken by The Foxes.
Unless Arsenal show they can up their game with their existing players – having thrown away the chance to qualify for the Champions League – they may well be in a fight for a European place – but not the one they may currently have their sights on.
Leicester may not be the only threat to Arsenal in that regard, either – what if Wolves improve? As the teams around them strengthen, the logic points to the gap between those teams and Arsenal closing, which could leave the club moving backwards in the near future, or even worse – proving Clinton Morrison right.
