Former Arsenal hero says Mikel Arteta needs to ‘let the handbrake off’ if nervy Gunners are to land the title

Former Arsenal full-back Lee Dixon says Mikel Arteta must “let the handbrake come off a bit bit” if the Gunners are to land their first Premier League title since 2003.

Yesterday’s 3-2 defeat by Manchester United on the Emirates means Arsenal have dropped seven  factors of their final three league video games with their lead on the summit trimmed again to 4 factors following wins over the weekend for Manchester Metropolis and Aston Villa.

They’ve additionally scored simply twice in these three video games regardless of a squad stacked with attacking expertise. And Dixon believes Arteta must be braver in video games to let his offensive gamers thrive.

The previous England right-back, who gained the title 4 occasions with Arsenal, informed BBC 5 Stay: “The handbrake wants to return off a bit bit. That is Mikel Arteta’s first job. He has been given some huge cash, and he has been given the gear to get the job completed.”

That is Arsenal’s time – Dixon

Dixon was stunned by Arsenal’s show towards resurgent United however mentioned there have been certain to be ups and downs over the course of a season.

He added: “That’s the sloppiest I’ve seen Arsenal in a very long time.

“It was a disappointing efficiency. I feel they had been in management for the primary half an hour, however they weren’t creating something, which has been an issue of late.

“They only regarded a bit bit off the tempo. They did look beneath stress when Manchester United began to return again into the sport a bit bit and that mistake can tip you over the sting.

“I feel Mikel Arteta got here out, and he mentioned he was going to stay with the gamers, which he ought to do. Folks let you know that you just don’t undergo a season and win a league and get all of it your individual method.

“That is Arsenal’s time simply now, and it’s how they react and the way they bounce again within the subsequent sport.”

Schmeichel – Arsenal inexperience may very well be a difficulty

Arsenal have developed a fame for being ‘nearly-men’ having completed as runners-up in every of the final three Premier League seasons and former United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel believes holding their nerve may very well be a difficulty.

The Dane mentioned: “The factor about profitable and getting it over the road is about understanding that it isn’t all going to go your method each sport. Manchester United and Arsenal had been neck and neck in 1999, and we ended up profitable it by one level, and we had two attracts within the final 5 video games.

“I feel the inexperience of everybody at Arsenal of not profitable the Premier League and having completed second for 3 years and being shut – that’s now coming again to them.

“That’s the stress. It’s not the stress from the surface, it’s extra internally and now could be the time. That’s one thing they need to study, they usually need to study it shortly.”

Arsenal have already certified for the Champions League spherical of 16 and Arteta will make wholesale adjustments for Wednesday’s residence sport with Kairat Almaty. Their subsequent three league video games are towards Leeds, Sunderland and Brentford earlier than the North London derby with Tottenham on February 22.