Arsenal have made great progress under Mikel Arteta, says Tony Adams, but are still a little short in a few key areas for a title charge.
After Unai Emery flopped as manager, Arsenal took a calculated risk by turning to a rookie coach in Arteta to take over the reigns.
Rebuilding the Gunners into the formidable force they once were is no simple task, but Arteta took it on and excelled by leading the club to a record 14th FA Cup triumph and a Community Shield this year.
And while things hit a bit of bumpy road of late, it was business as usual on Sunday as Arsenal returned to winning ways by securing a 1-0 win away to Manchester United – their first at Old Trafford since September 2006.
What’s more is that Adams, who captained the club to two Premier League titles, believes Arsenal can re-establish themselves as a title threat by making a few more key signings.
“They’ll finish above United. I think they’re a top-six team,” Adams told Stadium Astro.
“There are some great positive signs, but they are missing a goalkeeper and a number 10, someone up-front, to be champions.
“We have a couple of leaders in central defense and midfield. We’re getting closer.”
On Arteta, the former Gunners skipper added: “He has got fantastic ability to work with this team.
“He puts hours into the training pitch. He’s his own man, if [Mesut] Ozil’s not in his thinking, he’s out, it’s as simple as that. I can’t speak highly enough of the guy.
“The words coming out [of the club], when I talk to my mate Steve Bould, who’s still in the club taking the Under-23s at the moment, he said to me: ‘This guy has got it all, he’s the governor’.
“He’s the best he’s seen in a long time. He really does understand the game, he expresses himself; he’s very confident.
“It’s his first job, for God’s sake, he’s doing a remarkable, remarkable job.”
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