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Alan Smith: 'Arsenal need to show more bottle to win Premier League'

Alan Smith tells Sports Mole that Arsenal need to fix their "mental block" if they are to win the Premier League title again.

Former Arsenal striker Alan Smith has claimed that Arsene Wenger's team need to show "a bit more bottle" if they are to win the Premier League title again.

The North London outfit have not lifted the much-coveted trophy since 2004, having fallen away from the race in recent seasons.

With Chelsea and Manchester United having disappointing campaigns, Arsenal were in contention for the crown in the first half of this season, but they eventually finished second in the table, 10 points behind champions Leicester City.

Smith, who won two league titles and an FA Cup while at Arsenal, believes that the players are good enough to win the top flight, but their mentality is preventing them from doing so.

"They need to show a bit more mental resilience, a bit more bottle, if you like," Smith told Sports Mole. "You think of the 3-2 defeat to Manchester United when they basically fell apart. The shape was all over the shop. They failed when it mattered.

"There is quality there and Leicester have shown what can be achieved with real determination and team spirit as well as that ability. Arsenal have got to try and just fix that mental block that they've had over the last few years when push comes to shove."

Meanwhile, Smith has admitted that he would be "surprised" if the club offered Wenger a new contract.

Alan Smith was speaking at online bookmaker Betway's Euro 2016 Kick-Off Show. Watch the video and read more in-depth Euro 2016 opinion at blog.betway.com.

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger watches on during the game with Southampton on December 26, 2015
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Euro 2024 fixtures header
Friday, July 5
 
5pm
Quarter-Finals
Spain
vs.
Germany
 
8pm
Quarter-Finals
Portugal
vs.
France
Saturday, July 6
 
5pm
Tuesday, July 9
Wednesday, July 10
Sunday, July 14
Tables header RHS

Group A

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Germany Germany32107
Q Switzerland Switzerland31205
3 Hungary Hungary31023
4 Scotland flag Scotland30121

Group B

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Spain Spain33009
Q Italy Italy31114
3 Croatia Croatia30212
4 Albania national flag Albania30121

Group C

TeamPWDLPTS
Q England flag England31205
Q Denmark Denmark30303
Q Slovenia Slovenia30303
4 Serbia Serbia30212

Group D

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Austria Austria32016
Q France France31205
Q Netherlands Netherlands31114
4 Poland Poland30121

Group E

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Romania Romania31114
Q Belgium Belgium31114
Q Slovakia Slovakia31114
4 Ukraine Ukraine31114

Group F

TeamPWDLPTS
Q Portugal Portugal32016
Q Turkey Turkey32016
Q Georgia Georgia31114
4 Czech Republic Czech Republic30121


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