Arsenal FC legend Thierry Henry has questioned whether his former side have the mentality to win the Premier League title, urging the Gunners to ‘wake up and do it’ in a season where the biggest teams are struggling for consistency.
Arsène Wenger’s men ended a four-match winless streak in the Premier League this Sunday with a 2-0 win at Bournemouth, but the Gunners still lie in third position in the table, trailing surprise leaders Leicester City by five points.
Mauricio Pochettino’s inspired Tottenham Hotspur sit one place above them in the table — separated from their North London rivals only by goal difference — while one-time title favourites Manchester City have now dropped to fourth in the league following their shock defeat at home to Claudio Ranieri’s men. In a season when all of the Premier League’s big boys are struggling, former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry believes his former side have the opportunity to end their 12-year drought.
However, the Frenchman also questioned whether Wenger’s men have the mentality to cope with the pressure that comes with being one of the front runners in the title race. Speaking in his capacity as a pundit for Sky Sports, Henry was quoted by ESPN FC as saying: “If I had said to you that Chelsea would struggle, Manchester City would struggle, you would have thought that it would be a season that Arsenal would walk away with it easily. And it’s not happening.
“I would question also the mentality of it. The game against Chelsea, they didn’t score [lost 1-0]. Those are the sort of games you need to win. They need three points. It is business. You don’t win the league for a very long time. Can you win it? It’s time to wake up and do it.”
Henry also heaped praises on Leicester City, tipping them for the Premier League crown. “For me at the moment, Leicester are the team to win it,” added the 38-year-old. “They’re not only showing they can win it, they’re showing they can cope with the pressure.”
Arsenal FC face an uphill battle to win Premier League crown
Although they are still undoubtedly in the title race, the Gunners arguably have the toughest fixtures remaining this season compared to the other teams vying for the Premier League crown. Arsenal still have to go away to Manchester United, Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur as also West Ham United and Everton, neither of which will be easy fixtures.
To win the league, Wenger’s side will have to show the sort of resilience that Gunners’ supporters haven’t had the pleasure of seeing since the days of Thierry Henry. Meanwhile, with every win, Leicester move a step closer to the most improbable title win in Premier League history.
