Arsenal’s 4-3 loss to Liverpool on the opening day of the season has really brought a downer on the clubs ambitions this season. It’s as if the Gooners are all of a sudden out of the title race for good. It was a disappointing loss for sure, but is it a little too early for all this doom and gloom? Arsenal are well known to start off slow on the opening day, you only have to look as far as last season when they were defeated at the hands of West Ham.

Arsenal are often touted as being ‘only a signing or two’ away from being Premier League champions, so why is this injury-hit side being slated so bad? It’s a slow start for sure, but nothing at all to kick up a fuss about!

Either way, it hasn’t taken long for the media and pundits of this world to begin the rounds on the club and Wenger alike. Arsenal legend and Sky Sports pundit Thierry Henry believes Arsenal cannot attract top players to the club anymore, saying that Wenger’s stubbornness to pay big fees is a problem.

“The thing I don’t understand is, we’ve been told that Arsenal are wealthy, that we have money, that we can compete against anyone in the market,” Henry said after the game.

“But when the season starts, we can’t compete in the market. So which one is it? I just don’t understand. Are Arsenal still the first choice in England? If a big player becomes available on the market, first of all, can you compete? Can you put the money on the table? Next, is the money stupid? We all know the money is stupid but you have to pay. And finally does the player want to come to Arsenal? That’s something we all need to take into consideration. So are we still the first choice in England? I don’t think so.”

Arsenal have a defensive crisis on with injuries to Per Mertesacker and Gabriel, meaning Wenger started Calum Chambers and new signing Rob Holding in defence against Liverpool. Henry says it’s vital Arsenal sign a new centre back.

“In general I think Arsenal need a centre-back and a striker,” he added. “If they cannot get that striker, they should play Alexis Sanchez with Olivier Giroud.”

“It doesn’t have to be a world-class striker, but someone who can bring something different. You don’t always win the league with the league’s top goalscorer. I finished top scorer of the league with Arsenal and didn’t win the title. Sometimes you just need something different and I think Alexis can be that guy.”

[Quotes via Sky Sports]