Arsenal legend Paul Merson has claimed that the current crop of players know they won’t win the Premier League title, reports the Daily Star.
The former Gunners star believes that the club can’t win the competition after having such a poor transfer window. Manager Arsene Wenger only brought in Petr Cech from Chelsea over the summer, failing to reinforce several areas that were in need.
“Arsenal I have been in dressing rooms before where you have not won the league and you don’t buy players – and you know you are not going to win it again,” said the Sky Sports pundit, “It puts severe pressure on the players and whatever they say at Arsenal, I bet those players know they will not win the title this season.
“Does Arsene Wenger really think you can finish that many points behind Chelsea last season and get past them this time just by buying Petr Cech?”
Merson believes that the answer to their problems could have been the marquee signing of Real Madrid ace Karim Benzema. The North London side were heavily linked to the France international throughout the window, but a move never materialised.
“Fans pay top dollar to watch Arsenal and they are right to be upset,” he continued, “They are spending a fortune and the club isn’t. Go and put a bid in of ?70m for Karim Benzema and see what happens. They have got the money.
“I don’t see the logic in it at all. Okay, Kevin De Bruyne is overpriced – but Manchester City decided they needed him, paid the money and bang, it’s done. It just looks like Arsenal will flatter to deceive – again. If you keep on doing what you have always been doing, you will carry on getting the same results.”
The need for a new forward has been evident in the team’s first four Premier League games of the season. They have only been able to score three times, two of which were own goals. This has resulted in a shaky start to the campaign, with a loss to West Ham joined by a draw with Liverpool and close victories over Crystal Palace and Newcastle United.
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If they are going to challenge Chelsea and Manchester City for the league title then they will have to improve very quickly. Especially with matches against the Blues and Tottenham in the next month.