Arsenal legend Martin Keown expects his former team to miss out on a top-four finish - and Chris Sutton has pinpointed a "more realistic target".
With Premier League action returning next week, Mikel Arteta's side will resume their bid to climb up the table after a miserable time under ex-boss Unai Emery.
The Gunners are currently ninth, eight points off Chelsea in fourth, and face a tough task ahead in their bid to secure Champions League football.
But that quest is boosted by Manchester City's two-year UEFA ban, knowing that a fifth-place finish may secure them Champions League football if City's appeal is unsuccessful.
And former defender Keown reckons the Gunners should forget about the top four.
He told The Daily Mail : " Arsenal ’s problem, for the last two and a half seasons, has been their away form. It’s their achilles heel.
"In 2019-20, they’ve won twice on the road in 13 attempts, and their next three games are all away from home - against Manchester City, Brighton and Southampton.
"Then later in the campaign, they face Wolves and Tottenham away, too, before travelling to Aston Villa.
"If you’re a Manchester United player looking at those Arsenal fixtures, you’d be saying: ‘Good luck with that.’
"United have a slight head start and a more favourable run-in. Something affects this Arsenal group when they’re competing away from home, and I doubt they’ll make it into the Champions League because of that."
Arsenal trail Manchester United in fifth by just five points and Sutton added: "Arsenal won’t finish inside the top four but because of Manchester City’s European ban, they can go for fifth and that feels a more realistic target.
"Mikel Arteta was appointed six months ago and before the break, we saw changes in their style. There was a bit of steel about them. But they will require a hell of a run to finish fifth or higher."
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