West Brom manager Sam Allardyce has sent a passing shot to Mikel Arteta by claiming that Arsenal are in a relegation battle.
The Gunners sit just four points above the relegation zone after 14 matches, and have not won a Premier League game in their last seven attempts.
It has become something of a joke that Arsenal, who were expected to challenge for the top four, have become embroiled in a relegation battle.
But new Baggies boss Allardyce insists that that is exactly the case for Arteta.
“Absolutely,” he said when asked if they were in a relegation battle. “They haven’t won a Premier League game for almost double figures (is seven, one win in 10).
“Getting beaten last night, even though not in PL drains confidence of Arsenal’s players. They will be wondering what has hit them.”
Speaking after last night’s 4-1 defeat to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup, Arteta admitted that things were looking extremely bleak for the club right now.
“Things have to turn around,” said Arteta. “This is a crucial moment for us in the season and we have to do it this week.
“Obviously the two goals that we conceded [against Manchester City] put the game into a really difficult situation. The first one was a really soft one really early in the game.
“That obviously gives us the worst possible scenario in the situation we are in, a real test. The team reacted really well and after that we kept trying, we scored a really good goal.
“We started to be on top of the game for 25 minutes after that, I think we were the better team. Then in the best moment of the game, we concede another soft goal.
“After that, we kept trying, we had a really good situation to go completely through on goal with Lacazette but we missed the pass and on the counter they scored an offside goal. After it was 3-1, I think the game was over.
“I’m really feeling for the players, and obviously for our fans because something is happening every game for different reasons. But we need results.”
