Louis Saha has delivered a scathing assessment of Arsenal's title chances by predicting they will finish outside the Champions League spots next season.
The Gunners mounted what was considered an unlikely bid for the Premier League title in the 2022/23 campaign, leading Manchester City for much of the way. But a stumbling finish saw them amass just 12 points from their final nine fixtures, eventually finishing five points off the pace.
But Mikel Arteta is full of intent for the current summer transfer window, with the club reportedly submitting a £100 million plus offer to West Ham for Declan Rice. The Gunners are also on the verge of bringing Ajax defender Jurrien Timber and Kai Havertz to the Emirates in a potential £200million spending spree.
But former French striker Saha has other ideas. A former Premier League winners with Manchester United who also had a stint at Spurs, the 44-year-old was already far from a cult hero with Arsenal faithful.
And now he's risked further ire by tipping City, Liverpool, United and Chelsea too all finish above the north London outfit this time around. Asked who will be the main threat to the reigning champions, Saha told Betfred : "I believe that Liverpool are going to be up there and will most likely be the main threat.
"Everybody will probably say Arsenal because of what they did last season. But even if they make some good signings this summer, I’ll still be surprised if they finish ahead of Man City, Liverpool, Man United and Chelsea next season."
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Saha spent 15 seasons in the Premier League after helping Fulham to promotion in 2000/2001. Five of them were spent at Old Trafford, although injuries restricted him to 124 appearances in all competitions, scoring 42 goals.
And his doubts over his former rivals may be deemed harsh given their undoubted progress these last 12 months. Despite the late season capitulation, which began by surrendering 2-0 leads in successive April games against Liverpool and West Ham, it was the first time the club have secured a top two finish since Arsene Wenger was in charge in 2015/16.
That also proved the last time they secured Champions League qualification. And Arteta has made no secret of his desire to add reinforcements in order to compete on all fronts in 2023/24.
