Jamie O’Hara is no stranger to a swipe at Arsenal – recently, the former Tottenham Hotspur man has declared that Liverpool are ‘more likely’ to win the Premier League title this season than the Gunners are.
Despite this, he thinks that this is down to Arsenal’s poor fortune with injuries, rather than anything else. Nevertheless, he stressed the importance of today’s game against Liverpool, noting that Mikel Arteta’s men ‘cannot afford’ to lose it.
Furthermore, O’Hara also leant praise to Ethan Nwaneri, suggesting that Arteta should include the youngster in his starting XI against Liverpool.
What did Jamie O’Hara say about Arsenal and Liverpool?
Speaking in an interview with Grosvenor Sport, O’Hara said: “Liverpool look more likely to win the Premier League title than Arsenal. Arne Slot has got his team playing so well and they have more recent experience of winning a title.
“Arsenal haven’t convinced me so far this season, they’re not playing as well as they were, and I think the players know it. They have been unlucky with injuries to Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and now Riccardo Calafiori, they’ve got massive problems.
“[The game against Liverpool] is a title six-pointer for Arsenal. They cannot afford to lose this game; they would go seven points adrift! They probably couldn’t be in a much worse position to face Liverpool than they are right now either, Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard out injured, William Saliba suspended – how does Mikel Arteta set them up?
“I’d give young Ethan Nwaneri a start. He’s looked really lively when he’s had the chance, and he could be the missing piece in the Arsenal midfield without Martin Odegaard – Arteta has to roll the dice. Get him in and around the box, with Kai Havertz the focal point to play off and I reckon they can cause Liverpool problems.
“The fans really like Nwaneri and they will be right behind him and the team, Arteta needs the Emirates rocking on Sunday, it’s a must win against a very strong team.”