The former Spurs manager and ex Chelsea striker couldn’t agree on whether Arsenal would challenge next season.
Chris Sutton dejected
The likes of Chris Sutton and David Pleat were speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live on Monday about the title challengers in the Premier League in this coming season, and they had interesting things to say about whether Arsenal were set to be involved in the chase.
Surprisingly, Pleat, despite his Tottenham credentials, having managed the club in the 1980s and coming back to the side later in both a directorial and scouting capacity, felt that Gunners manager Arsene Wenger could make an impact in what is sure to be a competitive division, though one of his fellow studio guests, Sutton, couldn’t disagree more.
Former Tottenham Hotspur manager David Pleat in the stands
“I think it’s so difficult to call this season,” Pleat told 5 Live, as shown on their Twitter page. “I don’t know who the bookies are making favourites. Arsene Wenger is going to have a say in it for sure.
“No he’s not David,” Sutton interjected. “We’ve seen them capitulate every year for the past however many years. They’re [Arsenal] done.”
The former Blackburn, Chelsea and Norwich striker clearly has a different opinion of the Gunners and their title credentials. He will surely point to the fact that Wenger has failed to mount a serious title challenge in some years, last winning the title in 2004 and finishing second the year after.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger
However, last year’s runners up spot was the highest Arsenal have finished since, even if they didn’t challenge Leicester for the trophy.
Sutton, who was only at Stamford Bridge for one season as a player but has been an outspoken critic of his old club’s rivals, may feel that Chelsea under impressive Italian coach Antonio Conte will be in with a shot of reclaiming both the title and prestige of being London’s top club, but in reality, there could be a series of challengers to contend with, not least the Gunners, or Pleat’s former club, Spurs.
Many Arsenal fans see the 2015-16 campaign as a huge missed opportunity, given that several of the bigger, more financially backed contenders under performed, but with Wenger ensuring a top four placement at least in each of his seasons, and on an upward curve when it comes to league positions however you look at it (they’ve finished 4th, 3rd then 2nd the last three seasons), perhaps Pleat is right to factor them into the group of title challengers.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger
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