‘I’m a double Premier League champion – this one reason is why Arsenal haven’t won a title’

Arsenal have played second fiddle in the Premier League for the last three years, and as they look to do battle for the crown again, Joleon Lescott has a reason why they’re yet to win a title

Ex-Manchester City defender Joleon Lescott thinks a thin squad prevented Arsenal from winning the Premier League in recent seasons. The Gunners spent around £250million this summer after three consecutive second-place finishes.

Mikel Arteta has claimed just one piece of silverware during his six years in charge at the Emirates, though he has come increasingly close to hoisting a top-flight title aloft. Three seasons ago, they led the league for a large chunk of the season only to be toppled by Manchester City. The following year, they finished just two points behind Pep Guardiola’s side.

Last season, a dominant Liverpool were out of the Gunners’ reach, and they once again played second fiddle. Although their squad has been significantly bolstered this summer, Lescott still thinks Arteta’s side are far from being crowned champions, and a sub-par cohort has held them back in seasons past.

“Two years ago, I thought it was their best chance. That was the one. With great respect to Arsenal, I still feel they’re waiting for City and Liverpool to have an off-season,” said Lescott, speaking on In The Mixer, brought to you by Sky Bet.

“Whereas City and Liverpool are not waiting; they’re just having good seasons. Arsenal could even have their best season, but they still might not win.

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“Probably this season, they’ll be closer because of their squad. I think it was their squad [that stopped them from winning the league before].

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“I don’t think anyone can guarantee their best XI are always going to be available. But I do think that their squad is better placed now to cope with injuries and suspensions and all that.”

Lescott was then asked about Arteta’s lack of silverware from his time in charge at the Emirates, and thinks a good season by clubs that have switched things up could pose some awkward questions.

“I think it’s a big question mark if, say – City are in a transitional period now – if they come now and finish above Arsenal, I’ll be asking questions about Arteta,” he added.

“If City are changing their squad and are then the best competitor to Liverpool, that would be a big question mark. Liverpool are doing the same, changing players and have changed their manager.

“It’s not like, ‘He [Arteta] has been there six years, he should just be doing it.’ The other teams are doing what you’re trying to achieve. But they’re changing their squads and managers and are still more competitive than Arsenal.”

Despite recruiting the likes of Viktor Gyokeres, Martin Zubimendi and Eberechi Eze this summer, Lescott still thinks Arsenal are some distance away from winning the league and are, in fact, closer to becoming European champions.

He continued: “I actually think they’re closer to the Champions League than the Premier League. They could just get a lucky draw, and winning the Champions League doesn’t mean you have to beat the best teams every time.”

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