Arsenal should finish fourth or fifth in the league next season too, he added
(Image credit: Clive Rose/Getty Images)
Arsenal are the subject of some scathing analysis from one former West Ham United star – who reckons that the Gunners won't be signing Declan Rice this summer, either.
The Gunners sit five points clear at the top of the Premier League ahead of hosting Brentford at the Emirates Stadium this weekend. After accumulating 50 points in the first 19 games of the season, Arsenal are on course for a centurion season – and this is their best-ever Premier League campaign up to this point.
Rumours are rife, too, that manager Mikel Arteta is keen to improve his squad further. West Ham captain Declan Rice is on the shortlist as a new defensive midfielder – but now ex-Hammer Glen Johnson says signing the England international isn't realistic for the table-toppers.
Declan Rice is Arsenal's No.1 priority this summer (Image credit: Julian Finney/Getty Images)
"I can't see him moving to Arsenal in all honesty. Even if Arsenal win the league this season, I’d still be really surprised if they win the league again next season," Johnson told Betfred.
"They look great at the moment and things are going really well for them, but this is a total outlier season for them because they’ve been nowhere near this good previously under Mikel Arteta. Have they turned everything around in six months to be title challengers on a consistent basis? I don’t believe so.
"Even if Arsenal win the league I don’t believe Declan will move there because the likes of Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool, three teams who haven’t been at their best, are not all going to underperform again next season.
"If two or them can get back to their best next season, then Arsenal are going to be fourth or fifth possibly."
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Glen Johnson reckons Arsenal are enjoying an "outlier" season (Image credit: Getty)
West Ham star Rice is out of contract in 2024 and apparently turned down three extensions at the London Stadium so far.
Mark White has been at on FourFourTwo since joining in January 2020, first as a staff writer before becoming content editor in 2023. An encyclopedia of football shirts and boots knowledge – both past and present – Mark has also represented FFT at both FA Cup and League Cup finals (though didn't receive a winners' medal on either occasion) and has written pieces for the mag ranging on subjects from Bobby Robson's season at Barcelona to Robinho's career. He has written cover features for the mag on Mikel Arteta and Martin Odegaard, and is assisted by his cat, Rosie, who has interned for the brand since lockdown.
