Highbury Invincible Ray Parlour believes the camaraderie and ‘nasty streak’ in Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal squad can help end the club’s 21-year wait to win the Premier League title.
Parlour, a key member of Arsene Wenger’s 2004 unbeaten squad, celebrated three Premier League titles, four FA Cups, one League Cup and one European Cup Winners’ Cup during his impressive Arsenal career.
And he now sees similarities in the latest vintage of Arsenal players to the ones who secured so much success in the past.
Highlighting the recent signing of Spain midfielder Mikel Merino, the overall size of Arteta’s players and incidents such as Ben White kicking a ball at John McGinn in the hard fought win at Aston Villa, Parlour could not be happier.
Talking on behalf of Net Bet Online Casino, he explained: “White and Saliba? That’s what it’s all about. You have to look after each other on that pitch. And it can get nasty. We had that desire in my day too.
“We had games when teams were trying to kick Robert Pires, for example. He did not particularly like tackling so we had to stick up for him. Give some players a kick back, that gave him more freedom to play and be creative for us.
“It helps unite the dressing room and that is crucial to having a successful side. When matches are going against you and players are tired, you need to be able to look around you an know everyone is up for the fight to help each other.
“It is looking very similar now and I like to see it, I like to see that reaction from Saliba and Ben White. When Saliba makes that tackle and they all celebrate , because it was a big tackle, that’s what you want.
“Fans must love that. I certainly did as an Arsenal fan, seeing that commitment, making sure you got that tackle.
“You have got to stick up for each other. Because, you know, it’s a long old season, and you’re going to get times when people go off the ball a bit in your side, and you’ve got to stick up for them as well. It is about playing your best and helping your team-mates play well too.
“You can’t afford to have a few players who are causing problems. And it looks like Mikel now has got his own squad now and everybody’s going in the right direction.
“I think he’s also gone away from the smaller players and going back into a bigger set-up. Look at Declan Rice, Thomas Partey and now Merino. They’ve got some real physical presence in there, like back in the day with Patrick Vieira, Emmanuel Petit and then Gilberto Silva.”
Looking ahead to Arsenal’s title hopes and emulating the 2004 achievements and Arteta’s joke that they will try to WIN every match, Parlour added: “I always talked to Martin Keown about what Arsene said about us going unbeaten, how it placed too much pressure on us, but it worked out.
“Now though they are up against this juggernaut with Man City.
“I think Arsenal have improved again from last season. They’ve got to get a little bit of luck along the way, in terms of injuries and then it can happen.
“They’ve just got to believe they can do it. And I’m sure it’s going to be a hell of a title race again. I’ve got the top three down as Arsenal, City and then Liverpool. I hope I’m right!”
