BBC pundit slams one Arsenal weakness after latest shambolic defeat

Alan Shearer has savaged Arsenal after their 3-0 loss to Leicester City, per BBC Sport.

What’s he said?

The Gunners recorded their third successive defeat in the Premier League on Sunday, and they are now in serious danger of failing to finish in the top-four.

Defeats to Crystal Palace, Wolves and the Foxes – the Gunners conceded three goals in every game – have left Unai Emery’s men fifth, two points behind Chelsea and four behind Tottenham Hotspur.

There is a possibility, then, that Arsenal could win both of their remaining Premier League fixtures, against Brighton & Hove Albion and Burnley, and still fail to qualify for the Champions League.

They have the opportunity to qualify via winning the Europa League and play Valencia in the semi-final, but Shearer does not see that happening either.

And the former Newcastle United legend believes that their defence is to blame, with the Match of the Day pundit insisting that the backline cannot be trusted.

He said: “It is a miracle that the Gunners still even have a chance of making the top four, but they are in the same boat as Chelsea in that the next few weeks will decide how we judge their manager’s first season in charge.

“If they win the Europa League then they are back in the Champions League wherever they finish in the league, and that will be a very good season for Unai Emery’s side.

“It is hard to see that happening, though, because I have little confidence in Arsenal defensively, and none at all when they are away from home.

“They were all over the place at the back in Sunday’s defeat by Leicester and their defending was pathetic, even when they had 11 men. It was embarrassing to watch. They lost 3-0 and their goalkeeper Bernd Leno was their best player.

“Their defending has been their Achilles heel for a while now, but the only thing that has changed about it is that it seems to be getting worse.”

Easy but right

Shearer has nailed it but it was not difficult.

Arsenal’s defence has been shambolic for months now and it is finally catching up with them.

They will have to go some to either finish in the top four or win the Europa League and even the most casual fan could have foreseen this outcome from a mile away.

With the likes of Shkodran Mustafi and Sokratis Papastathopoulos continuing to embarrass themselves, it would be a minor miracle if Arsenal were playing Champions League football next season.

Even if they do, one cannot envisage them progressing very far.

from FootballFanCast.com http://bit.ly/2vqL0kU