LAGOS, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-William Gallas has questioned Arsenal’s prospects of winning the Premier League because he feels the Gunners lack the necessary “personality & character.“
After beating Manchester City in the FA Community Shield on penalties in the wake of a stirring comeback in stoppage time, Mikel Arteta’s team showed tremendous promise.
The former Arsenal icon is skeptical that the squad will still have enough gas in the tank by the season’s end to win the Premier League title in May.
“I’m sure Arsenal will get very close to winning the title this season, but I don’t think they will be crowned champions in May.
“I think Arsenal are missing the character and the personality to become champions; these are the qualities that they needed to show at the end of last season, and they couldn’t,” he stated while speaking to Gambling Zone following Arsenal’s victory.
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“I want to see Arsenal adapt a soldier mentality this season. I want to see players that are ready to communicate a lot on the pitch, demanding more of each other.
“I want to see experienced players taking responsibility when things are not going well on the pitch for Arsenal.
“I still think that Arsenal are missing this type of win-at-all-costs mentality, and that is why I don’t think they will win the title this season,” he added.
Gallas is now one more person to question Kai Havertz after the German failed to capitalize on his chances to score against City.
The former France international has expressed doubt over Arsenal’s decision to buy Havertz for £65 million ($82.47m) and thinks the attacker won’t be able to settle in at the Emirates.
“No, I don’t think Kai Havertz will show his potential in this Arsenal team. I don’t believe that Havertz was a player that Arsenal needed to sign this summer.
“For me, even when he was at Chelsea, he was never consistent enough. He scored some important goals for the club, and he played well in flashes.
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“He didn’t put in enough good performances during his Chelsea career, in my opinion. When I saw that Arsenal were signing him, I didn’t really understand it. I was surprised that they signed him,” he stated.
When they host Nottingham Forest on Saturday, Havertz and Arsenal will hope to disprove the Gunners lore by getting off to a winning start in the Premier League.