Former Arsenal player, Lauren, has advised Mikel Arteta’s team to improve their ability to handle pressure if they want to win the Premier League title for the first time in 19 years. Lauren believes that Arsenal needs to reach a “10/10” rating of ruthlessness to achieve this goal. He made this statement after Arsenal blew a 2-0 lead against Liverpool, resulting in a 2-2 draw, while Manchester City closed the gap on Arsenal to six points with their 4-1 victory over Southampton. Lauren believes that Arsenal needs to eradicate such collapses if they want to win the title, starting with their upcoming match against West Ham.
Lauren stated that Arsenal is currently at a “9/10” rating of coping with pressure, but they need to reach a “10/10” rating to win every game and secure three points. He highlighted Arsenal’s inability to see out the three points in their match against Liverpool as an example of their lack of ruthlessness. Despite this setback, Lauren believes that Arsenal has what it takes to fend off competition from Manchester City and Pep Guardiola. He is proud of Arsenal’s performance so far, winning seven games in a row before the Liverpool match.
Lauren also commented on the mind games played by City-loving TV personalities, including some pundits, who are trying to distract Arsenal. He believes that they are waiting for City to win the league and are playing psychology games to achieve this goal. However, Lauren emphasized that Arsenal should not worry about City and focus on winning their upcoming match against West Ham.
Arsenal could welcome back Eddie Nketiah for their match against West Ham. The striker has returned to full training after missing seven games due to an ankle injury. Nketiah has scored nine goals this season, including six while deputising for injured Gabriel Jesus. His availability will give Arteta more attacking options as Jesus is still finding his way back to full fitness following his four-month lay-off. However, defender William Saliba is still out due to a back injury, and Arteta is desperate to have him back for their potential title decider against Manchester City later this month. Saliba has missed Arsenal’s last three games, and it is unlikely that he will be available for the London Stadium match after three weeks out of training.
In conclusion, Lauren believes that Arsenal needs to improve their ability to handle pressure and reach a “10/10” rating of ruthlessness if they want to win the Premier League title. He is proud of Arsenal’s performance so far and believes that they have what it takes to fend off competition from Manchester City. However, he emphasized that Arsenal should not worry about City and focus on winning their upcoming match against West Ham.