Former Premier League striker, Troy Deeney has leapt to the defence of Arsenal after the Gunners recent dropped points against Liverpool, West Ham and Southampton.
The term ‘bottled it’ has been flying around to describe Arsenal over the last few weeks after Mikel Arteta’s side have let an eight point lead slip at the top of the Premier League table.
It now comes down to the game at the Etihad on Wednesday night to see who will gain control of the title race with a month left to play. Arsenal currently still sit top of the league, however Pep Guardiola’s side have two games in hand over the Gunners.
A number of pundits and fans alike arguing that Arsenal have started to ‘bottle’ it during the title run-in, after leading the Premier League title race for the majority of the season. However, former Watford striker Deeney has dismissed these claims.
Troy Deeney, via BBC Match Of The Day 2, on whether the Gunners have bottled the league title:
“Nah, it’s not fair at all. I think if you go back to start of the season and said ‘Arsenal are where they are now’, everyone would have laughed at you.
They’ve done unbelievably well, I think the manager and the team have created an identity over the last 18 months that shows that they’re building and I think, you know, from a personal point of view, I think Martin Odegaard has took them to another level.
I know Bukayo Saka gets the plaudits, I know Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko do too, but for me Odegaard is the one that is leading by example.”
Martin Odegaard stepped up when Arsenal looked down and out against Southampton last time out and earned the Gunners a point, however they will need all three at the Etihad on Wednesday night if they want to keep control of the title race.
