Former Premier League star predicts title race and says Arsenal need two major signings to overcome key weaknesses
FORMER Premier League winner Louis Saha reckons Arsenal are NOT in this season’s title race.
And the ex-Manchester United star feels Mikel Arteta needs to sign two top players if he’s to boost his trophy hopes.
Arsenal narrowly missed out on last season’s title, finishing five points behind Manchester City after a late collapse.
But they have started well again this term and sit joint-second with eight wins from 12 games.
The Gunners have shown they can rumble with the best after beating both Manchester teams this season.
And fans are once again dreaming of topping the Premier League table for the first time since Arsene Wenger’s 2004 Invincibles.
However, former France striker Saha believes Arsenal will not be dining at the top table come the end of the season.
A two-time title winner himself, Saha feels City will be too strong for the Londoners once more.
And he also believes Liverpool are the only side capable of challenging Pep Guardiola’s Treble winners.
But Saha predicts a change in fortune for Arsenal if they can sign striker Ivan Toney from Brentford, as well as midfielder Douglas Luiz from Aston Villa.
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Saha told Paddy Power: “The title race is still between Manchester City and Liverpool, I’m very confident in that. Arsenal can be a contender and a threat, as we saw last year.
“I respect the way they play, but they don’t have the stamina for the season. They don’t have the balance and they’ve only got one or two dimensions, unlike City and Liverpool.
“To be a favourite for the title, you have to have won it in the last few years, which City and Liverpool have done. When the two of them find that consistency, it’s going to be really hard for the rest of the league.”
On Toney and Luiz, Saha added: “Ivan Toney and Douglas Luiz would be great signings for Arsenal as they’re looking to build a squad to win the Premier League. They need signings like them because their bench is sometimes a little bit light.
“We saw it last year; things went well at the start of the season and then they had a couple of injuries and that’s the nature of the Premier League.
“I can see Arsenal going for Toney and Luiz, but especially Toney. He’s had his suspension and he’ll come back with loads of motivation and excitement. It’ll be like he’s starting his career again and he’d be a really good signing for Arsenal.”
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