Nicosia Gooner
11-10-2013, 11:10 PM
On October 20, I said that I’d wait until today to decide whether Arsenal are genuine contenders.
They were facing a tough programme with games against some massive teams, including Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool.
So while they may have lost at Manchester United on Sunday, I’m convinced the Gunners’ title challenge is very much here to stay - they’ve got too much quality, so much individual brilliance.
Yes, they will be disappointed not to have extended their Premier League advantage over United to 11 points.
They looked leggy, they looked as though they’d run out of ideas a bit - a surprise when you consider they have the likes of Aaron Ramsey, Mesut Ozil and Santi Cazorla.
If Arsene Wenger didn’t have the likes of Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Lukas Podolski still to come back, I’d say that he boss problems.
When those players are fit, I think they will have attacking options that are a match for any club in the Premier League.
That’s why I think the Gunners are still genuine title contenders - much more so than United, for whom this is a statement victory but little more.
They are still a work in progress. There is still so much for David Moyes to address with the champions and the points dropped already will cost them.
Arsenal are still the team to catch.
Their chief executive, Ivan Gazidis, has made it known that they are looking at signing another striker in January.
If I were Wenger I’d give Aston Villa whatever they want for Christian Benteke.
Get Bent: Arsenal might be unstoppable if they buy Benteke in January
Neville Williams
What an option he would give them - particularly with the chances they would create for him.
He needn’t worry about not getting game-time during the second half of the season in World Cup year.
Olivier Giroud can’t possibly play every game with Arsenal fighting for silverware on several fronts.
Benteke would share the load, bully defences and give the Gunners the depth up front that they need.
Check out all the latest News, Sport & Celeb gossip at Mirror.co.uk http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/mark-lawrenson-a rsenal-still-title-2718955#ixzz2kHry5tNO (http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/mark-lawrenson-arsenal-still-title-2718955#ixzz2kHry5tNO)
Follow us: @DailyMirror on Twitter | DailyMirror on Facebook
They were facing a tough programme with games against some massive teams, including Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool.
So while they may have lost at Manchester United on Sunday, I’m convinced the Gunners’ title challenge is very much here to stay - they’ve got too much quality, so much individual brilliance.
Yes, they will be disappointed not to have extended their Premier League advantage over United to 11 points.
They looked leggy, they looked as though they’d run out of ideas a bit - a surprise when you consider they have the likes of Aaron Ramsey, Mesut Ozil and Santi Cazorla.
If Arsene Wenger didn’t have the likes of Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Lukas Podolski still to come back, I’d say that he boss problems.
When those players are fit, I think they will have attacking options that are a match for any club in the Premier League.
That’s why I think the Gunners are still genuine title contenders - much more so than United, for whom this is a statement victory but little more.
They are still a work in progress. There is still so much for David Moyes to address with the champions and the points dropped already will cost them.
Arsenal are still the team to catch.
Their chief executive, Ivan Gazidis, has made it known that they are looking at signing another striker in January.
If I were Wenger I’d give Aston Villa whatever they want for Christian Benteke.
Get Bent: Arsenal might be unstoppable if they buy Benteke in January
Neville Williams
What an option he would give them - particularly with the chances they would create for him.
He needn’t worry about not getting game-time during the second half of the season in World Cup year.
Olivier Giroud can’t possibly play every game with Arsenal fighting for silverware on several fronts.
Benteke would share the load, bully defences and give the Gunners the depth up front that they need.
Check out all the latest News, Sport & Celeb gossip at Mirror.co.uk http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/mark-lawrenson-a rsenal-still-title-2718955#ixzz2kHry5tNO (http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/mark-lawrenson-arsenal-still-title-2718955#ixzz2kHry5tNO)
Follow us: @DailyMirror on Twitter | DailyMirror on Facebook