Paul Merson remains unconvinced by Arsenal as title contenders, citing Mikel Arteta's lack of "trust" in summer signing Fabio Vieira.
Portugal under-21 star Vieira joined from Porto in a deal worth up to £34m, becoming the Gunners' first signing of the summer. The youngster arrived with an injury, though, and has been unable to hold down a starting spot since returning to the fold.
The new recruit's lack of minutes has concerned Merson, who won the old First Division twice with the London club. Despite Arsenal sitting top of the pile, and despite the arrival of Mykhaylo Mudryk appearing to be drawing closer, the former England international has played down his old employers' prospects.
"Arsenal have done amazingly but they are a long way off being title contenders, in my opinion,’" Merson told Sky Sports. "Just look at that Newcastle game. They couldn’t bring anybody on when they needed to change it.
"There's nobody on the bench bar Fabio Vieira, who Mikel Arteta paid £34m for and doesn't seem to trust. Then, two days after that game, Man City are looking like they might draw against Chelsea, but they just bring on Grealish and Mahrez and one crosses it, one scores.
"That showed the quality Pep Guardiola has to work with and I just don't see how Arsenal are going to be able to live with Man City over a period where there are 60-odd points up for grabs. Arsenal would have to take four points off Man City in those two games to have absolutely any chance of winning it. Otherwise, I just don't see how Arsenal are going to do it."
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Just one of Vieira's nine Premier League appearances for Arsenal has come from the start. That came back in September, when he scored in the impressive 3-0 victory at Brentford, and his only other goal for the club has come in the Europa League.
Arteta has been more willing to call upon the 22-year-old in cup competitions. Vieira started all six group games in Europe, scoring against Bodo/Glimt, and played more than 80 minutes as Arsenal got past Oxford United in their FA Cup third round clash.
Next up for Arsenal is a trip across north London on Sunday to face Tottenham. Defeat in the corresponding game last season put a dent in the Gunners' Champions League hopes, and manager Arteta has opened up on that disappointment.
"It was a very difficult day, especially the way the game developed and what actually happened in the game, but obviously you learn a lot from difficult moments. We certainly did," he said.
"Whether it is actually directly linked to a change of behaviour or the team performing better, there are many factors to that. But hopefully we have learned some lessons from that day and we still have something for Sunday."
