My invincible Arsenal team were much braver than this - Mikel Arteta’s decision doesn’t make sense
One of Arsenal’s invincibles Jens Lehmann has outlined why he thinks the club will miss out on the Premier League title this season.
The Gunners are now seemingly in a two-way battle with Manchester City with the end of the season nearing. Mikel Arteta’s men are currently one point clear of their rivals at the top of the table, but City’s game in hand put their fate into their own hands.
Both teams are back in action this weekend as Arsenal host Bournemouth and City host Wolves. The Gunners will be ready for any slip-ups from Pep Guardiola’s side as they look to take advantage.
However, Lehmann, who was part of the Arsenal invincibles squad, has outlined why he doesn’t think that the team will go on to finish top of the table. The former goalkeeper has used comparisons to the squad he was part of.
“He's (Arteta) done a good job but unfortunately, you're talking to a guy who loves Arsenal, wants them to win and not just to be up there, I was very disappointed with how they lost to Bayern Munich in the Champions League,” he told the Daily Mail.
“Afterwards, they showed a great reaction beating Chelsea and Tottenham. But to be a big club, you have to win trophies. They're very different to us (Invincibles) in their approach - much more cautious and slower with the ball.
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“Physically, they run a lot more and have more high-intensity runs but they don't play faster than us because we were a one-touch team. They all take three, four touches at a time.
“And if you're too cautious in football, you can't win trophies. Most of the time, the bravest teams win the league. I would love them to win the title but that has cost them in certain games.
“It's 20 years since we won the league and I hope Arsenal win but it's not in their own hands anymore and that's a weakness.”
Lehmann has also questioned Arteta’s decision to replace Aaron Ramsdale with David Raya as first choice goalkeeper. Raya signed on loan from Brentford in the summer and quickly became the first pick in goal.
“I never ever understood the (Aaron) Ramsdale decision,” Lehmann added. “If you have a good, brave English keeper at a big English club doing well and then you bring in a Spanish guy who's never played for a big club at that level - it just doesn't make sense.
“The keeper is the most important position in the team. If I were Ramsdale, I don't know how I would react because it's not easy at that age. When you're older, it's different.”
