Arsenal: Eden Hazard’s Comments Much Needed Fodder

Eden Hazard has revealed his belief that the Premier League season will come down to a three horse race.  These comments should serve as motivation for Arsenal to succeed.

For years Arsenal have had the stigma of the Premier League’s “nearly men”. Since going undefeated and lifting the Premier League trophy in 2003, they have failed to replicate that same level of success. There are a litany of reasons for these repetitive shortcomings. Most notably it has to come down to Arsenal’s inability to keep up with England’s richest clubs.

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However times are changing. The Gunners can now hold their own in the financial aspects of football. The Emirates Stadium is paid off and there’s no need to sell star players. Last season was certainly the best chance to win the title, but the Gunners came runners up to Leicester City.  Inaction in the transfer market spelled doom for the club’s title hopes.

However, it’s a new season and Arsenal find themselves three points off league leaders Chelsea in fourth place. The Gunners have not lost since the first day of the season in all competitions.

Furthermore, the marquee performance of this season was certainly the 3-0 drubbing they inflicted on Chelsea. So it is quite funny that Eden Hazard of all people is discounting such a worthy foes title credentials.

The Gunners essentially lit a fire under Chelsea with the absolutely dominant performance they applied to their London rivals. Chelsea and Hazard have woken up since that humiliation and now they are reaping the benefits of that lesson.

Now it is time for Arsenal to gain some motivation from Chelsea.  Speaking about Chelsea’s closest title rivals, Hazard had this to say about the title race, “Man City and Liverpool. They are both good. If we want to be there at the end, then we have to finish above them.”

How disrespectful is that?

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Arsenal may not be lighting it up like Liverpool is, and maybe our squad depth doesn’t quite match that of Manchester City, but they are certainly in the thick of things. This illuminates a long standing belief about this club that is absolutely infuriating. Arsenal is viewed as a non-threat and that must change. It seems as though footballers don’t truly believe the club has what it takes to win the biggest prizes. This has to end, now.

Hazard’s words are the perfect bulletin board material that Arsenal need. In the last few games the Gunners have had an issue with getting off to flat starts and that must end as well. Whenever our players take the pitch all they have to remember is Hazard’s disrespect and that should light the necessary fire we need.

The Gunners themselves have often commented on the team’s mental strength. Now they have the necessary fodder to take that mental strength and turn it into a mental edge. Last season Leicester players mentioned that Arsenal’s dressing room selfies stoked them forward. Now it our turn to use some fuel.

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Our players need to show passion, anger and a bit of nastiness now. Our time of being overlooked should be over and Eden Hazard’s words should be the perfect motivation to take us over the top.