Gary Neville wasn't mincing his words in his assessment of Arsenal's season after Saturday's disappointing draw against Brentford.
Arsenal led at the Emirates Stadium after Thomas Partey finished off an excellent team move but were pegged back by Yoane Wissa's equaliser.
The dropped points left Mikel Arteta's Gunners ten points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool, who also have a game in hand.
Advert
Asked by NBC Sports anchor Rebecca Lowe whether Arsenal have progressed or regressed, Neville didn't hedge his bets.
"That will depend wholly now on the Champions League," said Neville.
"If they win the Champions League then all will be forgiven but otherwise, their league performances have been a big let-down.
"I think that if Manchester City weren't going to win the league which they've done in the last four seasons, Arsenal had to be the team that were there waiting.
"They're not. They're not even on the shoulder of Liverpool to put pressure on them in this last few weeks.
"Liverpool are going to win it at a canter. I think that's a big disappointment and where Arsenal have been in the last couple of seasons, you felt as though they were a team that were growing in Premier League title races and getting better.
Advert
"I think they've gone backwards. They've gone backwards, I think, from the start of the season, in terms of their recruitment. They never covered themselves for the likely injury to [Kai] Havertz, who's their only centre forward."
Neville acknowledged the also injured Gabriel Jesus but clearly doesn't fancy him a centre forward.
"[Martin] Odegaard's another big drop-off, I think, for them."
Neville added some of the back-room changes at Arsenal this season before fellow pundit Robbie Mustoe, the former Middlesbrough midfielder who's been a mainstay of football punditry in the United States of America since his retirement from playing in 2004, had his say on whether Arsenal have gone backwards this season.
Advert
"I don't think so," Mustoe replied.
"They're going to be the second-placed team again, for the third season on the trot.
"I think the injuries to key players in different parts of the season [have] to be considered.
Advert
"Liverpool have been the only team that have had very few injuries. Everyone else has had injury problems. It makes a difference.
"When you're trying to win the title and the team at the top has got very few injuries and everything's going well for them, and if you've got a few injuries, it's hard to keep up the pace."
Liverpool will secure their second title of the Premier League era with three more wins regardless of other results.
Buoyed by confirmation of a new deal for Mo Salah, the Reds will look to pick up the first of those wins against West Ham on Sunday.
Topics: Arsenal, Gary Neville
Chris Nee