Ex-Premier League star Joe Cole has adjusted his prediction for the Premier League title race following Arsenal’s disappointing 1-0 loss to Newcastle United at St James’ Park.
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With Arsenal’s title aspirations appearing to falter, Cole advised manager Mikel Arteta to consider dropping Leandro Trossard for the upcoming fixtures against Inter Milan and Chelsea.
The Gunners, aiming for their first league title since 2004, have only secured one point from their last three matches, putting pressure on their title hopes.
Alexander Isak’s goal, resulting from a well-placed cross by Anthony Gordon, handed Newcastle their fourth win out of ten league matches, further complicating Arsenal’s situation.
Cole, who initially backed Arsenal to win the Premier League, expressed his concerns during a post-match discussion on TNT Sports.
“I thought Newcastle were absolutely brilliant today,” he remarked. “This is a season-turning result for Newcastle. A lot of people tipped Arsenal for the league, me included, but I’m second-guessing that now after what I saw today.”
He emphasized the importance of the upcoming matches, stating that Arsenal needs to regain focus to avoid falling further behind in the title race. “They could find themselves ten points adrift. I’m sure Mikel will make changes because Trossard was off it today,” he added.
Arsenal legend Martin Keown echoed Cole’s sentiments, voicing concerns over Arsenal’s ability to compete against leading teams like Manchester City and Liverpool.
“It was thoroughly disappointing from Arsenal. They didn’t impose their personality on the game at all,” Keown noted, highlighting the need for a stronger response from the team.
After the match, Arteta acknowledged the team’s shortcomings, stating, “We deserved to lose today… We didn’t defend the box well enough… We lacked answers.” He called for a stronger performance in their next match, emphasizing the need to show their capabilities on the pitch.
As Arsenal prepares for a challenging week ahead, both Cole and Keown stress the urgency for Arteta to make tactical adjustments and reinvigorate his squad to stay competitive in the Premier League.
