Collymore questions if Arsenal can handle title run-in after they “bottled” it last season

Arsenal are on a great run of form in the Premier League at present but can Mikel Arteta’s team go all the way this year after falling short during the previous campaign?

The Gunners have been dismantling teams of late and it has put them in a great position to challenge for the Premier League title. However, Arsenal had their momentum halted a bit on Wednesday night as Porto defeated the English giants 1-0 in the Champions League.

Following this small setback, many began to question the North London club’s young squad, which includes pundit Stan Collymore.

Writing in his latest exclusive column for CaughtOffside, Stan Collymore believes that Arsenal are going in the right direction under Arteta but thinks the Spanish coach is “as much about the style than the substance”, which will have to change a bit for them to win the biggest trophies in football.

“Arsenal’s 1-0 defeat to Porto in the Champions League on Wednesday will prompt questions once again about the Gunners. The usual ‘Are they ready yet to win the biggest trophies?’. The North London club are ready to win big trophies but I do think there is a naivety around Mikel Arteta and some of his players,” the pundit said.

“They are going in the right direction but I have said for years that in August, September and October, when everything is still fresh and new, Arsenal are the most talked about team in the league because of the football they play and the entertainment they bring. However, it is the run-in that always seems to catch them out when it comes to achieving things.”

Are Arsenal ready to win the Premier League?

“I can’t get excited about a team that bottled the run-in last season, let’s just say how it is. They were put under pressure by Man City and they never responded. Little things like Wednesday night show that the process Mikel Arteta has is as much about the style than the substance, and it is not just me who says that,” Collymore stated.

“If you look at the great trophy-winning teams from the past, there will be periods in their season where they are under pressure and not playing well, but they still seem to churn out results. I don’t think Arsenal can do that right now but I am not going to say that are not able to win the big trophies either, although I don’t think they will this season.”