Theo Walcott fears Mikel Arteta’s side will struggle to compete on two fronts towards the end of the season if they are still in contention to win the Champions League and Premier League.
After last season’s late collapse, the Gunners have responded in impressive fashion, albeit showcasing a different brand of football which has seen them tighten up defensively, while sacrificing much of the attacking flair that won them so many plaudits last term.
After last weekend’s win at Brentford, Arsenal moved to the top of the Premier League and they can book their place in the knockout stages of the Champions League this evening with a game to spare should they gain a positive result at home against Lens.
He told Arsenal’s official website: ‘I think it’s really interesting, because Arsenal haven’t been in the Champions League for a few years, but I do feel a lot of teams will fear playing this team.
‘I think at some point this season Mikel might have to make a decision about what he wants to prioritise, because I can see Arsenal being right in contention until the end of the season, and it might be a case of deciding which one he wants to go for.
‘It’s going to be interesting, but there’s no doubt the club are moving the right way under Mikel, and it’s looking really exciting.’
For Arteta himself, meanwhile, the immediate focus is on gaining a positive result at the Emirates tonight that would ensure Arsenal go through as group winners.
Yeah, we do want to win the game, that’s for sure,’ he said at his pre-match press conference. ‘We want to be top of the group and the opportunity is there for us tomorrow, against a team that causes problems, and that we’ve already experienced against them, so we have the right motivation to do that tomorrow.
‘We have to win at home, and we have to win the group if we can tomorrow. That’s the mentality of the team, that’s for sure.’
Source: Metro
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