Thierry Henry delivers brutal Arsenal title verdict to Mikel Arteta ahead of Chelsea clash

Arsenal fable Thierry Henry believes that his erstwhile nine volition beryllium retired of the rubric contention altogether if they suffer against Chelsea astatine Stamford Bridge successful Sunday's derby clash

Thierry Henry insists Arsenal cannot presently beryllium considered arsenic rubric contenders - and that a nonaccomplishment against Chelsea this play would enactment them OUT of the contention altogether.

The Gunners person emerged arsenic Manchester City's closest rivals successful the past 2 seasons and are wide seen arsenic the squad astir apt to overhaul the Premier League champions aft being revitalised by Mikel Arteta successful caller years.

However, Arsenal are presently in the midst of a mediocre tally of form. They caput into Sunday's crunch London derby having mislaid 2 of their past 3 league games to permission them successful 5th spot, immoderate 7 points down Liverpool astatine the summit.

And aft watching his erstwhile nine lose to Inter Milan successful the Champions League connected Wednesday night, Henry feels they bash not presently look similar a squad susceptible of challenging for the title, though helium stressed determination was plentifulness of clip for the tide to turn.

Henry was asked if Arsenal were inactive rubric contenders and the CBS Sports pundit replied: "Right present they’re not they’re not challenging for the league, evidently arsenic you tin spot the results are not bully capable to beryllium capable to beryllium astatine the top, inactive a agelong mode to go.

"But my issue, and ever has been, we talked astir it connected matchday 2 [after Arsenal drew with Atalanta], distant from location I don’t deliberation it was bully enough. But we were getting distant with it for a precise agelong time, present we’re not immoderate more.

"That’s what I’m saying, let’s spot what’s going to hap against Chelsea."

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After criticising Arsenal's distant form, Henry past stressed that decision against Chelsea astatine Stamford Bridge could beryllium to beryllium each but terminal for the Gunners' rubric hopes, adding: "I deliberation it [would] beryllium highly difficult.

"Why? Because you person excessively galore teams to catch. One squad tin person a problem, but 1 oregon 2 – we’re going with Liverpool and Man City – I don’t spot 2 teams collapsing, that’s my issue."

While Henry ended the nighttime harbouring concerns, Arteta insisted that his squad would beryllium good against Chelsea if they could replicate their show against Inter connected Sunday.

The Spaniard said post-match: "If we play the mode we play, we‘ll person a large accidental to triumph against Chelsea. That‘s the mode we person to go. I told them that I’m arrogant of them.

"For sure, this is the mode that I privation to spot my team. All the large games that we person successful Europe by acold this was the champion 1 that we played successful the past fewer years."

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