Former England midfielder Paul Merson has said Arsenal’s only realistic trophy this season will be the Premier League title.
The Gunners saw their hopes of winning multiple trophies take a hit last Sunday after a 2-0 defeat to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final.
Mikel Arteta’s side remain active in other competitions, with an FA Cup quarter-final clash against Southampton and a Champions League tie against Sporting Lisbon still ahead.
In the Premier League, however, Arsenal hold a strong position, sitting nine points clear of second-placed Manchester City.
Speaking on Sky Sports, Merson was critical of Arsenal’s performance in the cup final, particularly their second-half display.
“Man City turned up in the second half of the Carabao Cup final and absolutely gave Arsenal a footballing lesson at the highest level.
“For 25 minutes of the second half, no one at Arsenal wanted the ball. They were booting the ball away, just kicking it back to City.
“And City destroyed them, absolutely destroyed them.
“It’s a sore one for Arsenal. It’s a confidence-sapping defeat because you come in the dressing room after that and think: oh my God, we just got destroyed in the second half.
“Will it impact the Premier League? Arsenal are too good for the other teams they have to play against in the run-in, so they will beat those teams.
“But watching that game and that second half, I don’t see Arsenal winning anything else but the Premier League.
“Man City are still in the FA Cup. Watching that game, you’d be shocked if Arsenal went back to Wembley and beat them.
“And then in the Champions League, I look at Barcelona – who Arsenal are on course to play in the semi-finals – and Arsenal haven’t got the pace to trouble Barcelona’s high line.”
