Gallas: ’Kroenke’s biggest mistake is Arteta, Arsenal is not a big club’

There are number of former Arsenal players who have a need to criticize it’s former club, or it’s current owner, American billionaire Sten Kroenke. And while most of them had remarks about the general direction the club is taking (or lack of it), former defender Willam Gallas talked about the sporting sector.

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The French defender, who played for the Gunners from 2006-2010 and had 174 appearances with 17 goals thinks that the current coach Mikel Areta will be a great manager eventually, but that his appointment was a mistake.

„Mikel Arteta was not ready yet to manage a club like Arsenal. OK, he was assistant coach at Manchester City. But he had never managed a team. It is completely different. The board made a mistake picking him. I’m sure he will be a great manager but you need to have experience to manage a big club. To be honest, it is a great shame for the Arsenal fans after finishing eighth. Arsenal is not the same Arsenal we knew 18, 20 years ago. We had players who were strong with strong personalities“ Gallas told The Sun.

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The French international played for three out of the four biggest London clubs, as he was also a member of Chelsea and Tottenham. And while he also played with Harry Kane, and agrees that the striker should leave the club, Gallas also predicted (again) that Chelsea will be a Premier League champion in 2022.

“Chelsea have the best chance of winning the Premier League next season because of how they played in the Champions League, every team will be afraid. If Chelsea buy a world-class striker, they will win it. From those three, Chelsea have the best chance. To be a big club, you have to qualify for the Champions League - only big clubs qualify for the Champions League. That's why City, United, Chelsea and Liverpool qualified. Not Arsenal and Tottenham - they are not big clubs. OK, Arsenal is a big club with history but it's been a long time since they won the Premier League so they need to get back. And Tottenham, it is a long, long time since they won the league” explained Gallas. Strong words to a former club...