Jamie Carragher believes Arsenal’s acceptance of a top-four finish has eroded that “something special” the north London club had over the past five or six years.
The Gunners have dropped off the pace in the race to finish in the top four this season after Arsenal’s disastrous run in the Premier League since their Champions League exit.
The north London side lost 10-2 on aggregate to Bundesliga outfit Bayern Munich in the Champions League last 16 to fall at the same hurdle in the past seven seasons.
Arsenal have lost their last four Premier League games on the road following loss to Chelsea, Liverpool, West Bromwich Albion and Crystal Palace.
The Gunners have finished in the top four in the past 20 seasons but Arsene Wenger is facing the prospect of missing out on the Champions League spot next season.
Speaking to Sky Sports following Arsenal’s 3-0 loss to Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Monday night, Carragher said:
“Now there’s an acceptance of [finishing] fourth. There’s this thing of losing tonight and where it leaves you for top four. Forget top four.
“It’s got nothing to do with it in my eyes in terms of Arsenal. It’s been a nonsense for five or six years. Go for the trophies, not top four. That has affected the whole club.
“They’ve lost that something special they had.”
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Arsenal will make the trip to Middlesbrough in their next Premier League game on Monday night.