Arsenal take on arch-rivals Tottenham today in one of the most important London derbies in recent history with both in the race for the title.
However, Arsenal have suffered back to back defeats which means they must win this match or probably kiss goodbye to their hopes. Andy Gray and Richard Keys, who front beIN Sports’ EPL coverage discuss this and the weekend’s other matches.
ANDY GRAY: This is always a big game but usually it is Arsenal, not Spurs, with title ambitions. This time, if Tottenham win, the Gunners could be out of the race to be champions and Spurs will have boosted their bid.
If that happens then questions will be asked about Arsene Wenger’s future. If Arsenal don’t win the title this season and it’s Tottenham or Leicester who beat them to the crown, Wenger would be under enormous pressure to go. You can be too long in the same place so maybe the time might be right for a change.
I hate to criticise Arsene because I admire what he has achieved over the years but if you are a coach and you continually tell your players that fourth is as good as winning a trophy in English football they start to believe it and subconsciously they might think: ‘Okay, we are second or third in the table now, we don’t have to bust a gut to be first because the gaffer is going to be happy.’
David Seaman has told #SSNHQ that Arsene Wenger is still the right man for Arsenal https://t.co/qgdlKsrGl8
— Sky Sports News HQ (@SkySportsNewsHQ) March 3, 2016
I hope that is not the case because the only thing that really matters is winning the title, but there is definitely something amiss at Arsenal. They are not clinical enough. From goalkeeper to their strikers they have some incredible footballers but they don’t defend as if their lives depend on it and at the top end of the pitch they seem to think that if they miss one chance another will be along shortly afterwards.
They are losing too many soft goals and not taking enough chances. With ten games left, that is just not the right attitude.
They have a problem at centre-back, Aaron Ramsey hasn’t delivered, they have missed Santi Cazorla, Theo Walcott continues to disappoint, and Olivier Giroud is a good Premier League centre-forward but is he top bracket? No, he is not.
Jack Wilshere is always injured and I don’t care what Mesut Ozil’s statistics say, he doesn’t do enough. Psychologically, the Arsenal players may feel the title is slipping away from them and the only way you can get them back on track is to win.
So, starting on Saturday, Arsenal have to get their heads clear, find a performance, stop moaning, defend properly and at the other end of the pitch make it count.
As for Tottenham. I know they lost to West Ham in midweek but I wouldn’t worry about that too much. They can look at that as their one bad performance and get back to basics and what has got them into second place in the league against their biggest rivals, Arsenal.
Local derbies are always difficult to predict and on current form you would expect Spurs to win this but I just think Arsenal’s players will know defeat could spell the end of their title dream and because of that, they can get a point. 2-2.
RICHARD KEYS: All season I have been absolutely convinced there has been enough in the tank for Arsenal to mount a title charge. I thought they were more steely, more determined and more able to win games that mattered but you can’t get beaten at home by Swansea if you want to win the league.
I have never advocated Wenger’s time is up at Arsenal but if they don’t win this title there is a very good argument for the club and Arsene to meet and decide it is probably best they go their own ways.
Spurs have never had a better chance to beat Arsenal and if they blow this, after losing to West Ham then there is a lot of growing up still to do. However, I think it is their time and if they do win this we can all but rule Arsenal out of the title race and then there will be some serious decisions to make about what they do going forward.
If Wenger went maybe Ronald Koeman would be a good replacement with Dennis Bergkamp to keep that Arsenal link but they need a change of direction. Spurs will win this 2-1.
