Exclusive: Former Premier League Star Muamba Worried Arsenal Not Strong Enough To Win Title

Former Premier League star Fabrice Muamba is worried Arsenal might not have enough strength in depth to challenge for the Premier League title this season.

The Gunners last won the Premier League crown in 2003-04 and have frustratingly finished second the past two seasons, unable to wrestle the title away from Manchester City.

This season, despite a solid start, Mikel Arteta’s ambitious side are sitting in third position, six points adrift of league leaders Liverpool – who also have a game in hand at the summit.

“I’ve been impressed with Arsenal this season, but it’s been tough for them because they’ve been missing Martin Odegaard through injury for a lot of it,” ex-Arsenal ace Muamba told SportsBoom.com. 

“He’s a big player for them and ideally you need to replace like for like, so missing him has been a big blow."

“My worry with Arsenal is that you have to replace like for like – and I’m not sure they have that strength in depth."

“If you look at Liverpool and Manchester City’s it’s usually a like for like replacement, which is what you need to compete every week in the Premier League."

“I think Mikel has brought in brilliant guys, but hasn’t brought in guys that were able to replace someone like Odegaard. And when that happens you lose a little bit of quality."

“It’s hard to find players like the [Bukayo] Saka’s of this world, but you need someone who can have a similar impact on games."

“But that’s a huge issue for everybody, not just Arsenal. If you want to compete for the Premier League title you need to have your star players fit, those players that can make a real impact."

“You can’t afford to take your foot off the gas in the Premier League because the competition is fierce – and now there’s so many good teams pushing at the top end of the table."

“You only have to look at how Aston Villa and Brighton have performed this season, these teams are getting better. The standard of the Premier League is getting better.”

SURPRISE LOSSES

Champions Man City are also lagging off the pace with Liverpool having set the bar this season under new boss Arne Slot.

The Sky Blues are fourth in the table and eight points off top spot, with title-chasers Chelsea second and confident they can challenge for the big prize this season.

But Muamba, 36, who enjoyed five seasons in the Premier League before a heart problem brought his distinguished career to a premature end, believes anyone writing City off at this stage in the season should do so at their peril, especially give manager Pep Guardiola’s incredible success at the Ethiad Stadium.

“In football nothing surprise me,” admitted Muamba, having seen City slip to three Premier League defeats in a row.

Losses to Tottenham Hotspur, Bournemouth and Brighton – as well as a Champions League loss to Sporting and a League Cup loss to Spurs – has ramped up the pressure on under-fire Guardiola.

Former England Under-21 international Muamba, now a coach with Premier League Burnley, added: “Manchester City are such a great football club, but let’s be honest, Pep knows more than anyone about what’s needed to turn things around in the Premier League.

“He’ll know the changes he needs to make and I’m sure we’ll see City get back to winning ways, they’re too good not too."

“It’s all about peaking at the right time, which is what City have always been good at.”