The Arsenal legend picks out two Gunners stars who are ‘not good enough to challenge for the Premier League title’… and claims Mikel Arteta’s side are ‘not in the same world’ as Liverpool’s.

Arsenal icon Emmanuel Petit has highlighted the two Gunners players he believes are not up to the standard required to win a Premier League title.

Mikel Arteta’s men have been involved in the last two title races, narrowly missing out on Manchester City on both occasions despite picking up 84 points in 2022-23 and 89 the following campaign.

City’s dramatic slump this season, which at one point saw them go seven without a win, has been something of a gift for the Gunners, with Pep Guardiola’s side now out of contention.

But Arsenal have been unable to capitalize on their rivals’ misfortunes and are currently third on 36 points, behind Nuno Espirito Santo’s Nottingham Forest.

Instead, it has been Liverpool who have surged up the table under new manager Arne Slot, catapulting themselves into an eight-point lead at the top going into 2025 with three straight wins to round off the year.

Petit has now explained why the Gunners have fallen behind in the Reds’ wake and singled out the two stars who are ‘not good enough to challenge for the Premier League title’ in an interview with Ladbrokes.

He said: ‘Arsenal looked nervous at the start of the season. They made stupid mistakes in games and lost stupid points. Easy red cards, you know. It has cost them.

‘But when you lose Martin Odegaard and you lose Bukayo Saka – your two best players – it’s hard to deal with it. Arsenal have a strong squad but they don’t have a bench like Liverpool.

“So to be out for a couple of weeks is a huge blow – but other players now have to come in, step up and take responsibility.

‘I’ve been waiting for some players to level up and I’m actually quite frustrated to be honest. I’m still waiting for them to reach the next level.

“I’m thinking of Gabriel Martinelli, for example. I am not satisfied with Martinelli. He had a good game against Crystal Palace a few days ago, but it’s not enough.

‘When you look at his journey and how he started in the first team, around the same time as Saka… when you look at how Saka has improved year on year and become one of the best players in the Premier League, I’m thinking “when will it come from Martinelli?”

‘He is not the only one; Gabriel Jesus is the same. He’s been playing well recently, but it’s not enough. I’m sorry, but it’s not enough’.

Petit also warned that Arsenal’s squad was not on par with Liverpool’s and that the Gunners would struggle to compete.

“If you want to win titles and you want to compete every season for the top prizes, you have to have regularity and consistency in your performances and you have to take responsibility when your best players are out of injury,” he added. .

‘A few players in that team are just not good enough to fight for the title. That’s my opinion. But because Arteta has no options, he has to play with them.

‘Honestly, do you think Gabriel Martinelli would get into that Liverpool team? No. How do you compete with that? Raise your level. You know, you’ve been in the club for years now. You have the chance to play for one of the best clubs in Europe. Take your responsibility.

Or, if you are not good enough, then the club has to make a decision about you at the end of the season. I’m sorry to say it, but I’m sick and tired of seeing some of these guys sign contract extensions for four or five years. On what? Based on what?’

Petit asked Martinelli to step up and show more for the Gunners in the absence of Saka.

‘You play for Arsenal – you don’t play for a midfield team, you know? This means that your expectations must rise. Your mentality, everything you have to bring more, said the Frenchman.

And if you can’t, then it means – to me – that you don’t have the talent to stay at Arsenal. I’m sorry to say that.

‘We have seen his quality in patches, but it is not enough. He is still young and he can recover quickly, so playing so regularly is not a problem for him. Come now; you have to show more on the pitch.’

World Cup winner Petit made 118 appearances for Arsenal from 1997 to 2000, lifting the Premier League and FA Cup in the early years of Arsene Wenger’s tenure.

The Gunners have a chance to make it three wins on the spin with a trip to Brentford on New Year’s Day as Thomas Frank’s men look to end their three-game winless run. Both Jesus and Martinelli start in the front three along with Ethan Nwaneri.