Arsenal could mount a serious challenge for the Premier League title next season if they sign a "world-class" goalkeeper, says former player Phil Neville. The Gunners had an impressive match on Monday, when they beat Hull City 3-1 to move level with second-placed Manchester City but with a game in hand. Former Everton captain Neville said: "I look at David de Gea and he has won five or six games for Manchester United with important saves. If Arsenal get a keeper in, they can be a championship-winning team."
The current Arsenal number one is Colombia international David Ospina, aged 26, signed from Nice for £3m last summer. The South American replaced Poland's Wojciech Szczesny as Wenger's first choice goalie at the half of the season. Phil Neville says Arsenal's first-half performance against Hull was excellent, comparable with the glorious teams of the late 1990s and early 2000s. Neville said: "That was the best 45 minutes I've seen Arsenal play since the days of Patrick Vieira and Emmanuel Petit (1997-2000). It was a 'wow' performance. They popped the ball about, they had runners in behind, the work-rate, the togetherness, the vision... I just thought it was magnificent. I think this is a different Arsenal team. We've seen them play beautiful football before, but that was a winning-big-trophies type of football."
Manager Arsene Wenger was asked about next season's Premier League title and told BBC Sport: "I'm not a prophet. Football is unpredictable, no one knows how strong teams will be at the start of the season. What is important is to start strong. What is at stake now is to finish second. If we maintain our run we will, and then it's the FA Cup final. It is all about finishing second for us, step by step. I believe now we are certain to make the top four and now it is about finishing second but even more so to keep the quality high and concentrate on the next game. Being in the FA Cup final helps us to keep our concentration but I feel we have made progress and we want to continue to develop as a team."
Arsenal are 6.50 at Bet365 to win the Premier League title next season.
timidi 8 years ago
Arsenal need a new goalkeeper and that is true but Arsenal need to change a lot of things if they want to be candidate for first place in Premier league. First of all they need new coach. With all respect which I have for Arsene Wenger I think that is time for Arsenal to try something new which maybe won't be better but...
Arsenal need a new goalkeeper and that is true but Arsenal need to change a lot of things if they want to be candidate for first place in Premier league. First of all they need new coach. With all respect which I have for Arsene Wenger I think that is time for Arsenal to try something new which maybe won't be better but at least to try something else because with Wenger they don't winning trophies.
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kruno1414
8 years ago
I disagree with this , no matter how bad goalkeeper you have (and like a premier league team you can't have that bad goalkeeper) that cannot cost you a tittle . Arsenal need to change a lot of stuff to win a tittle , after Thierry Heny left them i never looked at them like a serious team . They can be in top 4 but for...
I disagree with this , no matter how bad goalkeeper you have (and like a premier league team you can't have that bad goalkeeper) that cannot cost you a tittle . Arsenal need to change a lot of stuff to win a tittle , after Thierry Heny left them i never looked at them like a serious team . They can be in top 4 but for the tittle they need much more :)
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sharpe
8 years ago
Maybe Arsenal didn't have a top 1 and 2 goalkeepers in the world but I don't think that this is their main problem to become a champions team. I think the consistency in the performances is their main issue trough the season. And sometimes they are a little bit soft in the important games with teams like Chelsea, Man City...
Maybe Arsenal didn't have a top 1 and 2 goalkeepers in the world but I don't think that this is their main problem to become a champions team. I think the consistency in the performances is their main issue trough the season. And sometimes they are a little bit soft in the important games with teams like Chelsea, Man City e.t.c.
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seculla
8 years ago
Just like h34dhunt3r I disagree with Phil Neville and I really don't believe that Arsenal need goalkeeper. Both, Ospina and Szczesny, are very good and stable keepers. I think that what Arsenal need is one high-class central defender and also one good player from the middle to "take care of things" when Santi Cazorla don't...
Just like h34dhunt3r I disagree with Phil Neville and I really don't believe that Arsenal need goalkeeper. Both, Ospina and Szczesny, are very good and stable keepers. I think that what Arsenal need is one high-class central defender and also one good player from the middle to "take care of things" when Santi Cazorla don't "have his day". They are very strong team this year, and I believe that they will be even better for the next season.
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h34dhunt3r
8 years ago
I will have to disagree with Phil Neville about this one. No, I'm not saying that curent Arsenal goalkeepers are top class, not even close. Ospina had decent season, but they need better one, yes. But, Arsenal needs better def if they want to contest Premier League title. Also a top class goalscorrer, which Olivie is not....
I will have to disagree with Phil Neville about this one. No, I'm not saying that curent Arsenal goalkeepers are top class, not even close. Ospina had decent season, but they need better one, yes. But, Arsenal needs better def if they want to contest Premier League title. Also a top class goalscorrer, which Olivie is not. Midfield is their stronger weapon, but without good def there is no chance of them winning title. Hummels would be best choise for them, as a central defender. They need to spend same amount of money as they did last two summers if they want to contest Chelsea and teams from Manchester next season.
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rikimartin4444_115925
8 years ago
I absolutely agree with Phil Neville as far as the corner. Manchester United and Chelsea have David de Hea and Courtois Thibaut who were brought to them ten to fifteen points this year. On the other hand, Szczesny has taken the Arsenal some points with his mistakes. Also, Arsenal must bring superior attacker and defender....
I absolutely agree with Phil Neville as far as the corner. Manchester United and Chelsea have David de Hea and Courtois Thibaut who were brought to them ten to fifteen points this year. On the other hand, Szczesny has taken the Arsenal some points with his mistakes. Also, Arsenal must bring superior attacker and defender. And if they do that next year will be serious competitors for the title.
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Johnajax 8 years ago
Okay I totally agree with Phil Neville and i think too that Arsenal need new goalkeeper but I must say that is not the main problem in Arsenal. I think that they have too much young and not experienced players and they are not able to fighting for title until the end. I think that Arsenal did great job with Ozil and Alexis...
Okay I totally agree with Phil Neville and i think too that Arsenal need new goalkeeper but I must say that is not the main problem in Arsenal. I think that they have too much young and not experienced players and they are not able to fighting for title until the end. I think that Arsenal did great job with Ozil and Alexis Sanchez and they need more players like this two guys.
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