Gary Lineker believes Mikel Arteta has shown signs of ‘panicking’ in recent weeks but still expects Arsenal to win the Premier League.
Arsenal lost the Carabao Cup final to Manchester City before the international break and suffered a shock FA Cup defeat to Championship side Southampton on Saturday.
Those back-to-back defeats mean an Arsenal team who were chasing a historic quadruple just two weeks ago have fallen short in two competitions.
Arsenal are still on the verge of a memorable season, nevertheless, as they try to win their first league title in 22 years and lift the Champions League for the primary time ever.
Their nine-point lead over second-placed Man City is ‘huge’, in line with Lineker, who stays confident Arsenal will clinch a long-awaited Premier League title.
However the England legend admits Arsenal are going through a ‘little wobble’ and has also accused Arteta of ‘panicking’ because the Carabao Cup final defeat.
‘It’s been a tricky two weeks for Arsenal,’ Lineker said on The Rest is Football podcast. ‘Persons are asking if they’re panicking or if it’s a crisis, it’s definitely a little wobble.
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‘Obviously Gabriel went off with ice on his knee so that’s a priority because he might be a giant miss if he’s out. The subsequent game or two are hugely vital for Arsenal, they should regular the ship, there’s little doubt about it.
‘They’ve got an enormous lead within the title race but it’s squeaky bum time. I believe they might be advantageous, I believe they may win the league, which is able to still be the foremost thing for them.
‘The Champions League would obviously be an unlimited bonus because it’s a contest they’ve never won.
‘I’m pretty confident they may win the league. It’s not a foul situation to be in, nine points clear at the highest of the Premier League and within the quarter-finals of the Champions League.’
Lineker added: ‘Southampton played exceptionally well and Arsenal were off it.
‘I do need to toss stuff on the market and it’s easy in hindsight but I assumed there was a slight signal of panic after they withdrew so many players or the players themselves withdrew from international duty.
‘I just wonder if it showed a little bit of panic once you need a little bit of calm and confidence.
‘It’s easier to say that now but I just wonder if it showed us something since you wouldn’t ordinarily try this.’
Fellow ex-England striker Alan Shearer is less optimistic about Arsenal’s title aspirations following their FA Cup defeat to Southampton.
‘This just isn’t a fluke,’ Alan Shearer on BBC One as Southampton celebrated a superb victory within the FA Cup. ‘Victory went to the higher side on the night.’
Chatting with Betfair, Shearer added: ‘After Arsenal got knocked out of the FA Cup, it should be incredibly tough for them, mentally, to go on and achieve what they need to attain.’
Arsenal face Sporting within the quarter-finals of the Champions League on Tuesday night before returning to Premier League motion on the weekend against Bournemouth.
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