Michael Owen pinpoints where Arsenal will struggle under Unai Emery this season
Former Liverpool FC striker Michael Owen is tipping Arsenal to finish outside the top four this season
Michael Owen believes Arsenal’s failure to strengthen their defence will result in a sixth-placed finish in the Premier League this season.
The Gunners have been the busiest of the top-six clubs in the summer transfer window after Unai Emery recruited four new players.
Arsenal have signed Brazilian teenager Gabriel Martinelli and Saint-Etienne prospet William Saliba to prove that Emery has one eye on the future.
The north London side brought in Real Madrid midfielder Dani Ceballos on a season-long loan to improve their options in the middle of the park.
Arsenal smashed the transfer record with the £72m addition of Lille winger Nicolas Pepe to add creativity and pace in wide positions.
However, the Gunners are facing a defensive crisis at the back given that Laurent Koscielny wants to leave the club and Shkodran Mustafi’s future is uncertain.
Hector Bellerin and Rob Holding are still recovering from serious injuries that cut their 2018-19 Premier League seasons short.
Former Liverpool FC striker Owen is tipping Arsenal to finish outside the top four due to their lack of defensive recruits.
“Arsenal [have made the] club-record signing of £72m for Lille winger Nicolas Pepe, but they don’t appear to have addressed their central defensive problems although they also look likely to bring in left back Kieran Tierney from Celtic,” Owen told BetVictor.
“The Gunners will remain a match for anyone at The Emirates, and I’m looking forward to seeing Spanish Under-21 international Dani Ceballos, but they are likely to continue to struggle on the road.”
Arsenal haven’t finished in the Champions League spots in the last three seasons.
The Gunners slumped to a fifth-placed finish last term after Arsenal ended up behind Chelsea FC and Tottenham Hotspur.
