Despite the additions in the summer window, Roy Keane believes Arsenal will miss out on the Champions League again for a reason.
NEWS: ALL EYES ON ARSENAL
Roy Keane believes Arsenal have a certain “softness” in their squad and that would see them miss out on a top-four spot once again this season.
The Gunners have flattered pre-season and made light work of their last game with a 6-0 win over Sevilla ahead of their Premier League opener at Crystal Palace on Friday.
New signing Gabriel Jesus has fitted in perfectly with his new team-mates, scoring seven pre-season goals, while Oleksandr Zinchenko also impressed on his debut against Chelsea.
Arsenal seemed to have improved from what we have seen but Roy Keane is far from convinced and believes the Gunners will miss out on Champions League football again, just like last season.
THE LAST: KEANE DOUBT ARSENAL
As Arsenal turned their campaign around in the second half of last season, a late-season capitulation saw north London rivals Tottenham put them in the top four, dooming the Gunners to League football Europa instead.
Predictions are in full swing ahead of the new campaign and Keane may see Arsenal suffer another similar crisis.
Ahead of Friday’s trip to Selhurst Park, Keane told Sky Bet: “I think last season was their big opportunity. [to return to the Champions League].
“They screwed it up, they put themselves in a great position, four, five games left in the season, you think they’re in pole position and they screwed it up.
“They couldn’t cross the line. They were poor, the Newcastle game was a real blow for them where they never showed up.
“The manager was quite critical of them after the game, some of the players were – seniors – so you wouldn’t bet on Arsenal to finish in the top four next season because the other teams.
Keane believes the other teams have strengthened and Arsenal will fall short again.
“Manchester United will be better, you thought. Tottenham will be stronger so it doesn’t show for Arsenal, big setback, he added.
“Arsenal should be competing for the top four, so to be short and finish behind Tottenham was a hammer blow.
“There is still a sweetness in the group. Okay, they are young and sometimes you need experienced guys to get you over the line in the big games. But there is a softness in them, even the two centre-halves, they are not convincing.
THE VERDICT: AS USUAL FROM KEANE
Obviously, he’s looking to make a controversial statement and that’s about it. It would be ridiculous to cancel Arsenal or any other team at this stage of the season.
In fact, the race for the top four will be as heated as ever this time around. One thing is certain though and that is the fact that Arsenal will be among the top names in contention.
The Gunners are obviously stronger than last season, but many other factors could derail a team’s performance. We’ll have to wait and see how that pans out, but hopefully Keane will be forced to eat his words come May.