"Why Arsene Wenger's Arsenal Have Failed To Win Premier League Since 2004- Rio Ferdinand
Manchester
United legend Rio Ferdinand has claimed that Arsenal's lack of focus
and failure to adapt in big games to get results are the reasons why the
Gunners have failed to win the title for over a decade.
The
north London club last won the Premier League in 2004 and since then
they have added two FA Cups and two Community Shields to their list of
honours. Since 2000, Arsenal have made it past the Champions League
quarter-finals only on two occasions and are yet to win Europe's elite
club competition.
Arsene
Wenger saw his side's title hopes dented when they suffered a 3-1
defeat at the hands of league leaders Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. They
take on Bayern Munich in the Champions League round of 16 clash and
their chances of progressing to the last eight look slim.
Ferdinand
also questioned Arsenal's mentality to win silverware and revealed it
was one of the key reasons that several star players left the club over
the last 10 years.
"Before,
Arsenal had a spine of steel, the confidence to see out any game,
whichever way the circumstances demanded. There was the great side with
that spine of Seaman, Adams, Keown, Bould, Petit, Vieira, Wrighty. Then
there were 'The Invincibles', an incredible side," Ferdinand told The
Sunday Times.
"But
this team? On their day they are as good as anyone, but those days
don't come often enough. In big games too many players go missing.
Arsenal seem to bounce from game to game, never changing approach or
reacting to the different challenges, with no real focus on the
long-term goal.
"Speaking
to Robin van Persie and other friends who had been at Arsenal before
moving to winning clubs, they all found the mentality different. Robin
said of United: 'This place is built to win.'
"I
don't get the impression it was like that at Arsenal [adapting in the
big games], and maybe the problem's getting worse. For the past 13 years
they haven't won many trophies and that mentality of going out to win
becomes more and more a thing of the past.
"Everybody
is different but if I'm not doing the right things as a player I want
someone who can press my buttons, give me a rocket now and then, or give
a rocket to the whole team to liven up the dressing room and send
shockwaves through the group. From what I hear, Wenger is not that guy.
It's all calmness with him," he added.
Arsenal
suffered two defeats at the hands of Watford and Chelsea, which was
followed by a 2-0 win over Hull City. They are currently third on the
table with 50 points, trailing leaders Chelsea by nine points, who have a
game in hand.
Chelsea
face Burnley on 12 February and a victory for Antonio Conte's side at
Turf Moor will see them move 12 points clear at the top.
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