Former Chelsea star Tony Cascerino fears Arsenal will need a helping hand from his old side in the event that they are to pip Manchester City to the Premier League title.
The Gunners remain in a commanding position given they hold a nine-point lead, albeit having played a game more, but successive cup defeats has put a completely different complexion on the run-in.
Mikel Arteta had hoped that the Carabao Cup final would offer a chance to finish a six-year silverware trophy doubts but a 2-0 loss has as an alternative seen fresh doubts creep in and provided City with fresh impetus.
Pep Guardiola’s side turn in an ominous display against Liverpool on Saturday, romping to a 4-0 win, and would have taken fresh belief from the way in which during which a disjointed Arsenal team saw their FA Cup hopes go up in smoke against Southampton.
Arsenal are back in Champions League motion in midweek against Sporting Lisbon before they resume their Premier League campaign against Bournemouth at home on Saturday lunchtime.
A win there would see them extend their lead, temporarily no less than to 12 points, before City face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge 24 hours later.
With Arsenal’s trip to the Etihad also on the horizon, Cascarino believes extgending their current lead this coming weekend could prove to be essential if the north London club are to finally end their wait for the title.
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He told talkSPORT: ‘I might say in the event you ask me today and Arsenal should go to the Etihad and get a victory, I feel City will beat them.
‘I feel eight out 10 times in the meanwhile City would beat Arsenal.
‘I feel it’s really vital that Chelsea who City play next away that Chelsea get some form of result for Arsenal.
‘I feel they need a bit more help from other teams. I don’t see Arsenal winning every game, I just don’t.
‘I feel all Arsenal fans will probably be shell-shocked today at what they’ve witnessed. There an excellent side, we all know they’re.
‘They’ve led the way in which all season but for this era of the season to then look vulnerable that might be a priority.’
After talk of a quadruple gathered pace last month, Arsenal are actually contemplating the unthinkable and one other trophyless season following the upset at St Mary’s.
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‘Now we have crucial period in each competitions ahead of us, and it’s now the moment when you’ve gotten a difficult moment within the season, to indicate what we’re product of – and it’s now we now have to indicate who we’re,’ said Arteta after Shea Charles’ late goal condemned his side to back-to-back defeat for the primary time this term.
‘Obviously, we’re very dissatisfied. We desired to get back to Wembley as quickly as possible, and we haven’t managed to do this – so to begin with, congratulations to Southampton for being there.
‘The sport had moments, we had moments, where we had a number of dominance from our side, and possibilities, and situations in and across the box that we didn’t capitalise on enough.
‘After which we now have to just accept we were poor in and around our box defending situations that normally we’re excellent at. We paid the value.’
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