Arsenal Will Not Win the Premier League Says Alan Hansen: Daily Soccer Report

Match of The Day pundit Alan Hansen believes that Arsenal will not win the Premier League this season.

Hansen, writing in his weekly Telegraph column, said:

“Despite their hugely impressive reaction since losing to Aston Villa on the opening day of the season, which has enabled them to move clear at the top of the table, I still believe that Arsenal will end the campaign in fourth place.

“Last season’s top three – Manchester United, City and Chelsea – will be there again, but not necessarily in that order, leaving Arsenal to claim fourth. They clearly have an embarrassment of riches in the middle of the pitch and genuinely multi-talented players in Mesut Özil and Aaron Ramsey, but their critical flaw is that they are just not good enough when they do not have the ball.

“And with Arsenal now entering a run of fixtures in which they face Liverpool and United in the league, followed by games against City and Chelsea in December, the weaknesses that opponents have not exploited so far will come under much greater scrutiny.

Arsenal have started well and given themselves a chance, but only now, when they start to face the big teams, will their true credentials be borne out.”

Arsenal fans will remember that this is the same Hansen who said that United can’t win anything with kids.

United went on to win the league and FA Cup that season.

Here are today’s world soccer news headlines:

Premier League

• Arsenal are top of the Premier League but they will not win title — The Telegraph
• Hull City supporters start petition to say no to Hull Tigers name — City Til We Die
• Stoke’s Ryan Shawcross was booked in the dressing room at Man United after two Van Persie bust-ups — 101GG
• Leroy Fer adamant controversial ‘goal’ should have stood as Norwich City — The Telegraph
• Mark Bosnich doubts Sir Alex Ferguson has ‘bravery’ to meet him — The Guardian
• Hart-breaking! Monday’s papers go on the attack on under-fire Man City keeper Joe Hart — 101GG
• Sunderland fans in derby tribute to police horse punched by Newcastle United fan — Metro
• Ed Woodward disappointed Manchester United did not make more signings — Sky Sports
• Newcastle refuse to take questions after banning Newcastle Chronicle journalists following Wear-Tyne derby — Newcastle Chronicle
• Clubs like Newcastle and Port Vale who ban local papers are guilty of petty, shameful bullying — The Mirror
• Serge Gnabry agrees new long-term contract — Arsenal
• West Ham United striker Ricardo Vaz Te dislocates shoulder — BBC Sport
• Chelsea 2-1 Manchester City: counter-attack versus possession play but both attack in behind — Zonal Marking
• Villas-Boas calls out Spurs fans for lack of atmosphere during Hull win — FOX Soccer
• Tottenham fans had every right to boo another no-show at White Hart Lane — The Guardian
• A week before the South Wales derby… Cardiff fans hack the official Swansea website — 101GG
• Tottenham boss Andre Villas-Boas expects more from Erik Lamela — Sky Sports

MLS

• MLS playoff schedule and TV times — Pro Soccer Talk
• Breaking down the MLS playoffs bracket — Sports Illustrated
• New York Red Bulls end Curse of Caricola as MLS playoff places decided — The Guardian

South American soccer

• Santiago derby abandoned after player felled by object thrown from crowd — The Guardian

Bundesliga

• ‘Phantom goal’ game will not be replayed, says German court — The Guardian

International soccer

• FIFA president seeks image makeover; calls for tougher racism sanctions — World Football Insider

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