Joe Hart believes Mikel Arteta has assembled a squad able to winning the Premier League title but suggests the Arsenal boss is missing a player who will ‘challenge him’.
The Gunners spent big this summer, splurging over £250million to bring Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard, Cristhian Mosquera, Noni Madueke, Piero Hincapie, Viktor Gyokeres and Eberechi Eze to the club.
The outlay has provided depth that has so often been missing from the Arsenal squad.
Despite losing Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, William Saliba and Madueke to injuries for various periods this season with Kai Havertz not featuring for the reason that opening day, they’ve fought their option to the highest of the table after seven games played.
Arteta’s side have finished in second place the last two seasons but with signs Liverpool could also be faltering, there’s growing hope in north London their 21-year wait for a league title could come to an end.
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For all of the talent on show, nevertheless, former England and Manchester City goalkeeper Hart believes the Arsenal dressing room is missing a player who just isn’t afraid to interrupt ranks.
Speaking on TNT Sport’s The Breakdown, the previous goalkeeper explained incidents where a player is willing to challenge his manager are ‘cohesive’ to success with that form of personality not present within the Gunners squad.
‘Arteta has got this crop of players who’re hungry but has nobody who will challenge him,’ Hart said.
‘In the large moments, everyone knows there’s this dressing room bust-up that might be from the skin [seen as] divisive but it surely just isn’t, it’s cohesive.
‘When someone stands up and says something like “boss you bought it incorrect” and the coach either hears you or says “in case you think I got it incorrect, there’s the door”. Those moments are massive in a season.
Arsenal return to motion away to Fulham on Saturday evening. They might find themselves 4 points clear of Liverpool by the point the weekend is out, with Arne Slot’s hosting Manchester United on Sunday.
Arteta is ready to be without his captain for as much as six weeks nevertheless with Odegaard sidelined with a knee problem.
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