Thierry Henry has delivered a grim verdict on Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes this season.
The Gunners’ have not won the league for 20 years, a run dating back to the Invincibles’ triumph in 2004.
However, manager Mikel Arteta has guided the club to back-to-back second place finishes in the last two seasons.
Despite being Manchester City‘s closest challengers in recent years, though, Arsenal have made a stuttering start to the campaign.
After failing to win any of their last three league matches, the Gunners sit fifth and seven points adrift of leaders Liverpool.
Their dip in form has Arsenal favourite Henry doubting their title credentials this term.
The former forward, who is their record scorer, gave his verdict on CBS Sports following the club’s Champions League loss to Inter Milan on Wednesday night.
Henry explained: “Right now they’re not challenging for the league, as you can see. The results are not good enough to be at the top.
“My issue, and we’ve talked about it since matchday two, away from home I don’t think it was good enough.
“We were getting away with it for a very long time, now we’re not anymore, so let’s see what happens against Chelsea.
“I don’t think they’ll be out the race. I think it will be extremely different because you have too many teams to catch. I don’t see two teams collapsing, that’s my issue.”
Arsenal take on Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on Sunday in their final match before the international break.
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The Blues are currently one place above their London rivals on goal difference after 10 matches.
Henry won the Premier League twice during his eight years with Arsenal in 2002 and 2004.
Those are the club’s last two triumphs, however, with the second coming as part of an unbeaten season.
Arteta has also only lifted one major trophy since his appointment in 2019, winning the FA Cup later that season.