Emmanuel Petit Critiques Arsenal's Title Aspirations

Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino's performance in a 3-1 win against Brentford has drawn mixed reviews, with Troy Deeney acknowledging his quality but questioning if he is 'up to the level of Arsenal' in the long term. Despite struggles early in the season, Arsenal has shown resilience and closed the gap to league leaders Liverpool, who currently hold an eight-point advantage. Former player Emmanuel Petit criticized the team for lacking depth compared to Liverpool, particularly with injuries to key players like Bukayo Saka and Martin Ødegaard. He expressed frustration with the performance of Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus, suggesting they have not met the expectations needed for a title challenge. Arsenal's recent inconsistency and inability to capitalize on rivals' struggles have hindered their title aspirations, leaving them in third place as they head into 2025. The Gunners will need to improve their squad depth and performance if they hope to compete effectively in the Premier League.