Arsenal have won nothing - why are they tired? Their arms don’t ache from lifting trophies

Former Arsenal defender William Gallas has hammered Mikel Arteta's current team for looking tired already after yet another defeat, this time in the Champions League.

Hakan Calhanoglu scored the only goal of the game in first-half stoppage time from the penalty spot after Mikel Merino was adjudged to have handled the ball in the area. The central midfielder felt he should have been awarded a penalty before that incident when he was clattered by Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer but the referee waved away protestations.

The Gunners pressed for an equaliser in the second half with Gabriel Magalhaes' header cleared off the line, Kai Havertz's strike tipped wide and Ethan Nwaneri effort flashing over the crossbar but the Milan club were able to hold on. Arsenal have won just one of their last four matches in all competitions and travel to an improving Chelsea on Sunday in the Premier League.

Arteta's side is currently plagued with injuries but former defender Gallas believes this is no excuse for fatigue at this stage of the season. "I still believe it's between those three clubs: Liverpool, Manchester City and Arsenal," he told Prime Casino.

"Mikel Arteta has to find the solutions to get his team winning again, but, and I’ve said this before, Arsenal are missing that striker who can make the difference. I've been saying this for a long time; I’ve been saying it for years.

"I still believe that when you want to win the league, you need to have one of the best strikers in Europe. That is the first problem that Arsenal has.

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"The second problem is that some players are not at the same level they were last season. I know it's not easy to repeat the same things year after year, because when you’re competing for the Premier League title, trying to be the best, you lose a lot of energy.

"I could understand Arsenal’s levels dropping if they won the league last season, I wouldn’t like it, but I would understand it because that can happen to successful teams. It’s unacceptable for Arsenal’s players to look tired at this time of the season.

"Liverpool won the Premier League; they won the Champions League. They dropped off last season, and you can understand why, because maybe the players had heard the same things from Klopp for too long.

"You forgive them that because of what they won, Arsenal doesn’t have that excuse. Arsenal has won absolutely nothing! Nothing.

"Why are they tired? Their arms don’t ache form lifting trophies.

"Explain to me why they are tired? Liverpool, they don’t look tired, they look like they’re ready to fight for the title."

Arsenal currently sit fifth in the Premier League, seven points behind leaders Liverpool but that gap could grow to ten points should the Reds beat Aston Villa on Saturday evening.

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