Former Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann has urged the Gunners to throw caution to the wind if they want to win the Premier League title.
Lehmann, who won the trophy with Arsenal in 2004 as part of the Invincibles side, claims Mikel Arteta’s men are slower than the team he played in, and doesn’t believe that approach will reap its rewards.
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He told the Daily Mail: “[This team] are very different to us – much more cautious and slower with the ball.
“Physically, they run a lot more and have more high-intensity runs but they don’t play faster than us because we were a one-touch team. They all take three, four touches at a time. And if you’re too cautious in football, you can’t win trophies.
“Most of the time, the bravest teams win the league. I would love them to win the title but that has cost them in certain games.
“It’s 20 years since we won the league and I hope Arsenal win but it’s not in their own hands anymore and that’s a weakness.”
Table-topping Arsenal have three games to go and hold a one-point lead over second-placed Manchester City. Crucially, though, City have a game in hand.
Lehmann thinks Arteta has done a “good job” at the Emirates but says he will ultimately be judged on trophies.
“He’s done a good job but unfortunately, you’re talking to a guy who loves Arsenal, wants them to win and not just to be up there,” he added.
“I was very disappointed with how they lost to Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
“Afterwards, they showed a great reaction beating Chelsea and Tottenham. But to be a big club, you have to win trophies.”
