Arsenal: Gary Neville Doubts Depressingly True

After the 2-0 win over Crystal Palace, Gary Neville expressed doubts over Arsenal’s title chances. Such doubts are depressingly true.

History has a rather depressing penchant for repeating itself. For Arsenal, history is the antagonizer and the irritator, the unconquerable hurdle, the insurmountable mountain. It hangs over the club like a demeaning, domineering beast, simply watching and waiting for the inevitable slip-up.

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The culture of winning is one that history rewards, one that is cultivated and developed through practice and repetition over an extended period of time. Arsene Wenger was the master of such cultivation early in his time in North London. However, more recently, the magic touch, if many are to be believed, has since flown from his fingers.

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The storyline this year, though, has been one of difference. One of a new, hard-nosed character, a title-winning character. However, doubts still pertain as to the title chances of the Gunners. One man who holds such doubts is Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville. After the 2-0 win over Crystal Palace, Neville expressed the historical questions that have plagued this side for many years:

"“I think Arsenal are where they’d expect to be. They win, go on long winning runs, and then lose a couple, then win another eight or so, teasing you, thinking that they’re going to be title contenders but never quite getting there. They’re a good football team, they play the right way, but you feel they’re going to fall short, and you feel it’s going to happen again.”"

While those comments may fly in the face of two consecutive wins, wins that stabilise a sinking ship after the away losses to Everton and Manchester City which saw the team sit nine points behind league leaders Chelsea, they do perhaps hold an element of truth to them.

It may seem overly harsh but history does carry significance, especially for a team that is often associated with being psychologically weak, unable to overcome the mental hurdles that a title challenge demands. Wenger, unlike many of the very successful managers across Europe, has seemingly been unable to instil the winning mentality, the toughness and the desire to inspire the consistency necessary to win a Premier League trophy.

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Neville is notoriously negative regarding Arsenal and their hopes – that is what comes with being a Manchester United stalwart, facing Wenger’s side at the height of their powers – but they do carry an element of truth, in a rather depressing manner.