Arsenal’s defeat to Liverpool served as a ‘reality check’ for excitable supporters who are tipping Mikel Arteta’s side for a Premier League title tilt this season.
That’s according to Andy Goldstein, who says he’s had plenty of Arsenal fans call into The Sports Bar and telling him they’re gunning for the top spots and even the trophy itself.
Well, they were given a rather stark awakening by the defending champions on Monday night, says the host.
A decent coach in Mikel Arteta, a developing team and trophies already in the bag has been lifted in recent months and thumping Fulham 3-0 on the opening day increased excitement.
This was intensified by the announcement of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s new contract, which caused a fair bit of hysteria.
But, after Aston Villa achieved the same 3-0 scoreline against the lowly Cottagers – who have three defeats from three – on Monday night, Goldstein has wondered just why so many Gunners fans are getting so carried away.
Arsenal finished eighth in the Premier League last season.
And Goldstein believes their 3-1 defeat at Anfield shows just how big the gulf still is between them and the top, saying they were ‘tonked’ by Jurgen Klopp’s side.
“Arsenal got played off the park,” said The Sports Bar host.
“Arsenal had 34 per cent possession to 64 per cent for Liverpool, Liverpool had 24 shots while Arsenal had just FOUR.
“I know Arsenal set up to soak up all the pressure and get them on the counter, that’s how they got their goal, they had chances and [Alexandre] Lacazette will be kicking himself.
“But the gulf, the difference between those teams in the end…
“When you look at Arsenal’s season so far, we’ve had Arsenal fans phone up and say they’ll get top-four and top-three, top-two, [talkSPORT show] Drive this afternoon even had an Arsenal fan [phone to say] ‘we’re going to win the league’.
“Lots of Arsenal think they’re going to do really well, but you look at their results…
“I know we’re only three games in, but they beat Fulham 3-0 – well, Villa did that tonight, so now you look at that result and you think, ‘OK, it’s a good result and an away win, happy days’, but let’s not get too ahead of yourselves, because Aston Villa copied that.
“They then beat West Ham with an 85th minute winner, it was a close game, but West Ham were incredibly unlucky to get nothing from that game.
“Carabao Cup game is the Carabao Cup, they beat Leicester I know, but it’s the Carabao Cup.
“And then they got tonked tonight, they got absolutely played of the park by Liverpool.
“I don’t see where this confidence has come from Arsenal fans.
“I know they won the FA Cup and they won the Community Shield, I know everything Arsenal fans are going to say, but come on, let’s be realistic.
“I don’t see this major jump.
“Arsenal fans were telling me on last week’s show that they’ll finish above Manchester United, but how are you going to make up that ten point swing?
‘Oh, we will’ – how?!”
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By: Joe Moore
Title: Arsenal on par with Aston Villa? Defeat to Liverpool a reality check for fans who hope for Premier League title, says talkSPORT host
Sourced From: talksport.com/football/766474/arsenal-result-aston-villa-liverpool-fans-premier-league-title/
Published Date: Tue, 29 Sep 2020 09:01:39 +0000
