Arsenal’s title hopes are OVER if they lose to Liverpool, warns Gunners legend Tony Adams
TONY ADAMS has warned Arsenal ahead of today’s Prem showdown with Liverpool: Lose and you can forget the title.
Gunners legend Adams believes they will have more chance of lifting the Champions League if they slip SEVEN points behind Arne Slot’s Reds and SIX behind Manchester City.
The ex-Arsenal captain, four times a champion with the club, said: “This is not quite a must-win game but it is a must-not-lose.
“We can’t lose, because then we would not be far off having more chance of winning the Champions League than the title, even this early.
“At the back end of the season, you will also have a City squad that has been rotated and is full of beans. Usually they don’t lose a game.
“You have to stay in touch with your rivals. If you get to April within three points of the title, you still have a chance.”
Adams is the only player to win the title in three different decades — skippering the Gunners to glory in 1989, 1991, 1998 and 2002.
But Adams, 58, feels his injury-hit former club have it all to do at the Emirates this afternoon.
Defender William Saliba is banned after a red card against Bournemouth.
Boss Mikel Arteta fears Bukayo Saka, Riccardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber will not be fit while skipper Martin Odegaard is a long-term absentee.
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Tony Adams: Red cards are sign of a winning mentality… Arsenal need to be MORE aggressive
BACK in the day at Arsenal, red cards were regarded as signs of a winning mentality — not a failing that could cost them titles.
The Gunners go into Sunday’s clash with Liverpool without defender William Saliba after he became the THIRD player in Mikel Arteta’s squad to be sent off this season.
When fellow Frenchman Patrick Vieira was dismissed in a home game with the Reds in August 2000, there was indeed talk of crisis in Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal team.
But for Arsenal’s captain that day, Tony Adams, Vieira’s disciplinary record and reaction to his latest misdemeanour were water off a duck’s back.
Adams told SunSport’s Dan King, chuckling: “It was par for the course, Patrick getting sent off — everyday occurrence.
“If I thought Patrick was being out of order, I would have had a quiet word. But I wasn’t going to go up to Patrick and say, ‘Calm yourself down, for God’s sake!’
“Because that was half of his game. I needed that from him.
“And if sometimes we got red cards — and Arsene said, ‘Oh, I didn’t see it’ — then that’s the way it was.”
“When they were closing down people, putting in tackles and getting involved, putting pressure on teams and maybe mistiming a tackle to get a yellow or a red, I didn’t have a problem with that.
“I would rather have had that than have no-one getting sent off and accepting losing every week.
“I’d like Arsenal to be MORE aggressive in making tackles and closing down.”
Read Tony Adams’ full thoughts on Arsenal’s red card woes…
Adams added: “With Saliba out and the injuries, everything is pointing to an away win.
“As soon as Saliba went off against Bournemouth, you saw it fall apart. We lost our balance.
“It’s the first time in about three years that we’ve had a few injuries and it is highlighting weaknesses in the squad.
“City have got an array of talent. That level of quality throughout your squad makes a difference over the season.”
Adams is also not sure if Arteta has a centre-back good enough to make up for the absence of Saliba.
The ex-England captain said: “When we won the league in ’89, we had me and Steve Bould, with Dave O’Leary as back-up.
We can’t lose, because then we would not be far off having more chance of winning the Champions League than the title, even this early.
Tony Adams
“If one of us was out, we were OK. When you have that level of quality in your squad, you are winning titles.”
But Adams reckons they CAN get a result.
He added: “Liverpool are confident and Mo Salah is on fire but I have a funny feeling Arsenal will get a point.
“I would love it if we got all three — and if that means getting another red card in the process, so be it.”
Arsenal ratings vs Shakhtar: Jesus reminds fans of his quality but Trossard flops for poor Gunners
ARSENAL continued their unbeaten run in the Champions League with a 1-0 win over Shakhtar Donetsk – but it was far from a convincing performance.
Gabriel Martinelli orchestrated the decisive goal when his low-driven strike hit the post and deflected in off the back of goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk.
Here’s how SunSport’s Tony Robertson rated the Gunners…
DAVID RAYA – 7
Seldom asked to do much aside from recycle the ball to Gabriel or Saliba until the final stages
Pushed a potentially dangerous cross out of danger in the 84th minute. Pulled out a magnificent low save in injury time before claiming a dangerous cross to keep his clean sheet.
BEN WHITE – 6
Back in at right-back today and played as if he had never been out of the team.
Received a yellow card in the 34th minute. Subbed at half-time for Mikel Merino.
WILLIAM SALIBA – 7
In the team after his red card against Bournemouth, played like his typically assured self marshalling the defence.
One or two sloppy passes late in the second half but otherwise can have no complaints with another solid performance.
GABRIEL MAGALHAES – 5
Sloppily gave the ball away to hand the visitors a dangerous chance out of nothing. Had another lapse just after the opener but in the end he was bailed out by Calafiori.
Marked improvement in the second half.
RICCARDO CALAFIORI – 6
Skied a golden chance over the bar after six minutes. Tested the goalkeeper again after 24 minutes.
Dragged his foot and went down injured after skipping under a tackle in the 67th minute. Replaced by Myles Lewis-Skelly in 71st minute.
THOMAS PARTEY – 6
Comfortable evening in midfield for him. Recycled the ball well when at his feet and kept play ticking over.
Moved to right back as White was hooked but didn’t have too many worries. When he was caught out of position Rice was able to cover.
DECLAN RICE – 6
Like Partey, he had a quiet night in midfield with Shakhtar unable to retain meaningful possession.
Moved into the six as White was hooked and Partey moved to right-back. Cut out a dangerous low cross at the edge of the area.
LEANDRO TROSSARD – 4
Nothing quite went right for him all night with some sloppy touches ending attacks and putting Arsenal in trouble.
Summed up his night by missing a 77th minute penalty and was hooked in the 88th minute.
GABRIEL JESUS – 8
Wore the captain’s armband and looked bright down the right wing.
Denied a well-deserved goal by the feet of the keeper in the 43rd minute after Havertz played him in.
Second half saw more good link play, but never had another chance to end his goal drought as he was replaced by Sterling in the 68th minute.
GABRIEL MARTINELLI – 7
Grew into the game following a quiet start and was rewarded with a goal, of sorts, after 30 minutes.
Brazilian cut inside from the left wing before firing a shot to the near post before the shot rebounded off the woodwork and hit the goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk to go in the net.
KAI HAVERTZ – 7
Centimeters away from getting Arsenal’s second in the 39th minute after Jesus squared a volley back across goal.
Returned the favour to set up his team-mate moments later only for the goalkeeper to prevent a goal.
Won a free-kick at the very end of the game to run the clock down.
SUBS
Mikel Merino (on for White HT) – 6
Some nice touches and stitched play together well. A solid yet unspectacular performance.
Raheem Sterling (on for Jesus 68 mins) – 6
Tried to play on the shoulder of the last man but did not have the pace find the clear cut chance he would have liked.
Myles Lewis-Skelly (on for Calafiori 71 mins) – 6
Slotted in at left-back and was not afraid to show for the ball but often did not receive it while tucking infield.
Jorginho (on for Trossard 88 mins) – N/A