Paul Scholes the fear that there is no way back Arsenal IN Premier League title race and has confidence Manchester City will have their measure in Sunday’s clash at the top of the table.
The Gunners saw their nine-point lead cut last weekend when it went down home defeat against Bournemouth was mercilessly capitalized on by Pep GuardiolaHis team is hitting form at the right time of the season.
A devastating second half display at Stamford Bridgedecorated by Quickfire goals from Nico O’Reilly, Marc Guehi and Jeremy Doku helped put it on Chelsea to the sword and piled the pressure on Arsenal.
Mikel Arteta’s side appear to be wilting in the face of increasing scrutiny and their record against the Premier League’s elite is not cause for optimism as they prepare to travel to the Etihad, a venue where they have not won since 2015.
Struggling Arsenal must first overcome Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League tomorrow night before attention turns to a potentially crucial clash with City, but Scholes fears the result is now a foregone conclusion.
“I think Arsenal have gone, me,” said the former Manchester United midfielder The good, the bad and football podcast
“I think the whole momentum is with City. At some point, you have to beat your rivals. I haven’t seen them do that, they don’t win big games.’
Scholes’ former team-mate and podcast co-host Nicky Butt agreed that the writing appears to be on the wall for a group of players who are showing the mental frailty that has reared its head in the past.
“Until you’ve earned it, or overcome that hurdle, it’s an absolute nightmare,” he said.
“You just think you’re going to let them down again, and you can see that now with Arsenal and City, especially with Pep in charge, how many times they’ve won the title.
Meanwhile, former United midfield third general and multiple title winner Roy Keane urged senior players in the Arsenal dressing room, including Declan Rice, to take stock of the current situation and show some much-needed leadership.
He said: ‘Rice needs to show more leadership skills. It was a nervous performance. It’s okay to be nervous, it’s how you handle it.
“When a team is pushing you – and Bournemouth really were – when it goes back to the keeper and you’re pointing at it, don’t; you’ve got a big target man.
‘Don’t overcomplicate it, especially if you’re nervous. I’d rather be nervous on the pitch than give the ball away cheaply in our own half.
‘You have to smell this stuff. It’s not like Arsenal learned from the first half, they were doing it in the second half as well.
“People like Rice, talking about leadership skills, they have to have a handle on people.
“People are watching Arteta, the fans are nervous, no – that’s for the players.
“The fans won’t do it for you, the manager can only do so much, he’s got a great squad together in a great position.
“Arsenal must get a grip – or they will go through.”
MORE: Bayern Munich are holding transfer talks for the England star linked with Arsenal and Man Utd
MORE: Matches Lisandro Martinez will miss for Man Utd after the red card against Leeds
MORE: Roy Keane points the finger at Declan Rice as Arsenal falter in the title race
