Mikel Arteta is hoping to contest another Premier League title race this season (Picture: Getty Images)
Arsenal have not got the character in their squad to win the Premier League title, believes former Gunners and Chelsea defender William Gallas.
Mikel Arteta’s team have made a very solid start to the season, sitting third in the table and just one point behind league-leaders Manchester City.
Dropped points have come with defeat at Newcastle and three draws so far, with Gallas saying that he expects the north London side to continue to falter at times over the rest of the campaign.
The Frenchman says Arsenal do not have the characters in the squad that can make sure they avoid the most difficult moments and it will cost them in their pursuit of Premier League glory.
‘Arsenal are capable of winning important games, such as the one against Man City, but we expect them to drop points, and we don’t know why,’ Gallas told Lord Ping.
‘The Newcastle game was what it was. We all know how tough it is to play against Newcastle, but Arsenal had to leave with the three points. That’s the difference between a team with a lot of character and a team without it.
‘Man City have a lot of character and we saw that in their wins over Manchester United and Sheffield United, and the latter was in the last minute.
‘We know how tough the Premier League is, and you need to have players who will give the team security. You need to have the right strikers and right defenders.
‘Arsenal have a good squad, but they need that player who will drag them out of tough situations. They don’t have that player at the moment.’
Gary Neville disagrees with Gallas’ assessment and believes Arteta’s side are genuine title challengers this season.
‘I think that Arsenal can win the league this season.’ He said on the Stick to Football podcast, brought to you by Sky Bet. ‘Despite starting slow, the football will come, the football that we saw from them last season.
‘The fact that they’ve started a little bit slower, I never think is a bad thing, they’re sat there in the pack behind [top].’
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‘We expect them to drop points.’