Patrice Evra identifies Arsenal ‘problem’ in Premier League title race | Football

Patrice Evra says his “problem” with Arsenal is that they have promised so much in recent years under Mikel Arteta – but have still failed to deliver when it really matters in the Premier League.

Arsenal, inspired by Eberechi Eze, restored their advantage at the top of the table to six points with a 4-1 victory in a one-sided north London derby against Tottenham last month.

However, the Gunners looked a different team without the injured Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba, and their lead has since shrunk to just two points after 15 games.

In the space of their last five games in the top flight, Arteta’s men have drawn against Sunderland and Chelsea, before being beaten at Villa Park this weekend, to loosen their grip on top spot.

Second-placed Manchester City, meanwhile, made it three wins in a row with victory over high-flying Sunderland to keep the pressure on their title rivals ahead of the Christmas period.

Once they return from their midweek Champions League trip to Club Brugge, Arsenal will look to get back to winning ways in the Premier League at home to lowly Wolves.

The north Londoners know that victory against Wolves on Saturday would put them five points clear of City, who face Crystal Palace 24 hours later at Selhurst Park.

“It’s really difficult because every time I talk about Arsenal it’s jokes,” former Manchester United full-back Evra told Tribal Football.

“I love Arsenal because of the football they played at the time. Arsenal was the first team I watched in the Premier League because Thierry Henry invited me and I remember saying, ‘Okay, I have to play in this league.’

“It’s a funny story with Arsenal. That’s why I called them ‘Netflix’. I know a lot of fans were like, ‘Wow, you hate us’. First of all, I can’t hate my babies. I used to call them my babies, but that’s a joke.

Evra, a five-time Premier League winner with United, has serious doubts about Arsenal’s ability to “handle pressure” when things are going well.

After all, the Gunners have finished second in each of the previous three seasons in England’s top flight – and Arteta is yet to win major silverware since leading the Gunners to FA Cup glory in 2020.

“My problem with Arsenal is that they will give you hope of winning the championship,” added Evra.

“You remember they had a good gap on second place and now they’re just a few points ahead.

“I don’t know if they can handle the pressure. They bought a striker, that’s what was missing, a real striker. They have everything now. So I don’t think that’s an excuse for them to fail this year.

Arsenal have transformed themselves into set-piece experts under Arteta over the past two seasons, a trait which has drawn both praise and criticism.

According to Evra, the Gunners risk becoming too reliant on set pieces, straying too far from what made them a scary and attractive proposition during their peak years under Arsene Wenger.

“They have players who can make the difference, but they always like to score goals from corners or set pieces,” explained the Frenchman.

“I watched an Arsenal game a few weeks ago and people were saying they played good football, but they played straight. They don’t even play from the back, that’s not what I want to see.

“I just feel like Arsenal are not a winning team.”

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