Former Arsenal hero says Mikel Arteta needs to ‘let the handbrake off’ if nervy Gunners are to land the title
Arsenal's title challenge has faltered in recent weeks
Former Arsenal full-back Lee Dixon says Mikel Arteta needs to “let the handbrake come off a little bit” if the Gunners are to land their first Premier League title since 2003.
Yesterday’s 3-2 defeat by Manchester United at the Emirates means Arsenal have dropped seven points in their last three league games with their lead at the summit trimmed back to four points following wins over the weekend for Manchester City and Aston Villa.
They have also scored just twice in those three games despite a squad stacked with attacking talent. And Dixon believes Arteta needs to be braver in games to let his offensive players thrive.
The former England right-back, who won the title four times with Arsenal, told BBC 5 Live: “The handbrake needs to come off a little bit. This is Mikel Arteta’s first job. He has been given a lot of money, and he has been given the equipment to get the job done.”
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This is Arsenal’s time – Dixon
Dixon was surprised by Arsenal’s display against resurgent United but said there were bound to be ups and downs over the course of a season.
He added: “That is the sloppiest I have seen Arsenal in a long time.
“It was a disappointing performance. I think they were in control for the first half an hour, but they were not creating anything, which has been a problem of late.
“They just looked a little bit off the pace. They did look under pressure when Manchester United started to come back into the game a little bit and that mistake can tip you over the edge.
“I think Mikel Arteta came out, and he said he was going to stick with the players, which he should do. People tell you that you don’t go through a season and win a league and get it all your own way.
“This is Arsenal’s time just now, and it is how they react and how they bounce back in the next game.”
Schmeichel – Arsenal inexperience could be an issue
Arsenal have developed a reputation for being ‘nearly-men’ having finished as runners-up in each of the last three Premier League seasons and former United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel believes holding their nerve could be an issue.
The Dane said: “The thing about winning and getting it over the line is about understanding that it is not all going to go your way every game. Manchester United and Arsenal were neck and neck in 1999, and we ended up winning it by one point, and we had two draws in the last five games.
“I think the inexperience of everyone at Arsenal of not winning the Premier League and having finished second for three years and being close – that is now coming back to them.
“That is the pressure. It is not the pressure from the outside, it is more internally and now is the time. That is something they have to learn, and they have to learn it quickly.”
Arsenal have already qualified for the Champions League round of 16 and Arteta will make wholesale changes for Wednesday’s home game with Kairat Almaty. Their next three league games are against Leeds, Sunderland and Brentford before the North London derby with Tottenham on February 22.