Joe Hart believes Mikel Arteta has assembled a squad capable of winning the Premier League title but suggests the Arsenal boss is missing a player who will ‘challenge him’.
The Gunners spent big this summer, splurging over £250million to bring Kepa Arrizabalaga, Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard, Cristhian Mosquera, Noni Madueke, Piero Hincapie, Viktor Gyokeres and Eberechi Eze to the club.
The outlay has provided depth that has so often been missing from the Arsenal squad.
Despite losing Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, William Saliba and Madueke to injuries for varying periods this season with Kai Havertz not featuring since the opening day, they have fought their way to the top of the table after seven games played.
Arteta’s side have finished in second place the last two seasons but with signs Liverpool may be faltering, there is growing hope in north London their 21-year wait for a league title could come to an end.
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For all the talent on show, however, former England and Manchester City goalkeeper Hart believes the Arsenal dressing room is missing a player who is not afraid to break ranks.
Speaking on TNT Sport’s The Breakdown, the former goalkeeper explained incidents where a player is willing to challenge his manager are ‘cohesive’ to success with that sort of personality not present in the Gunners squad.
‘Arteta has got this crop of players who are hungry but has no one who will challenge him,’ Hart said.
‘In the big moments, we all know there is this dressing room bust-up that can be from the outside [seen as] divisive but it is not, it’s cohesive.
‘When someone stands up and says something like “boss you got it wrong” and the coach either hears you or says “if you think I got it wrong, there’s the door”. Those moments are massive in a season.
Arsenal return to action away to Fulham on Saturday evening. They could find themselves four points clear of Liverpool by the time the weekend is out, with Arne Slot’s hosting Manchester United on Sunday.
Arteta is set to be without his captain for up to six weeks however with Odegaard sidelined with a knee problem.