Jamie Redknapp has conceded that he finds Arsenal’s ambitions of a top four finish each season boring after their failed Premier League title bid this year.
His comments came after Arsene Wenger’s side were held to a goalless draw by Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on Sunday, as they missed out on an opportunity to widen the gap between themselves and fifth-placed Manchester United.
The Red Devils sit five points adrift of the Gunners having played a game less, and so the race goes on for Arsenal to secure Champions League football in a season in which they were tipped to be Premier League champions.
While Redknapp believes that Wenger’s men will ultimately go on and clinch fourth place, he delivered a less than flattering verdict on their failures which seem to repeat themselves year in, year out.
“It’s like groundhog day,” he told Sky Sports. “We’ve seen so many games like that from Arsenal, where they seem to run out of ideas, look like they’re waiting for something to happen. When Alexis Sanchez isn’t on form, you wonder who’s going to score.
“It looks like they’re going to limp into the top four again and that, for me, is boring. They deserve better than that.
“You can’t keep doing that and be brainwashed into thinking fourth is good enough. They should be doing more. They should be looking to win the title.
“I know you can say Chelsea and Man Utd are still behind them but this was their big chance and unfortunately, they’ve blown it.”
Redknapp went on to argue that injuries and other excuses were also boring now, as nothing can hide how disappointing it has been for Arsenal not to be competing with Leicester City and Tottenham for the title in the closing weeks of the season.
The former Liverpool midfielder makes a valid point as this was Wenger’s biggest chance at ending their wait for a league title. However, there is an argument that the players have also let the supporters down having fallen short of their top form over the course of the campaign.
Whether or not a change is made this summer remains to be seen, but if the trend continues where a club the stature of Arsenal can only aim for a top-four battle, then perhaps it is right that Wenger must step aside.