Netherlands vs Iceland
Van der Vaart sees real problems in Arsenal (Picture: Getty Images)
Former Tottenham star Rafael van der Vaart insists Arsenal have no world class players in their squad, convinced any of those good enough to play for Real Madrid would crumble under pressure.
The Gunners are still top of the Premier League but dropped more points in a damaging draw to Wolves on Thursday night. The visitors led 2-0 at Molineux against the team rock bottom of the Premier League but left with just a point.
Arsenal have now played a game more than second placed Manchester City who can reduce the gap to just two points when they take on Newcastle United on Saturday evening.
Attention will then switch back to the capital where Tottenham host Arsenal in the north London derby – their first game with Igor Tudor at the helm following Thomas Frank’s departure.
Much has been made of Arsenal’s mental strength amid what has been a rocky start to the year. There are also still scars from failing to get the job in previous seasons having finished second in three consecutive campaigns under Arteta.
Manchester United and England legend Wayne Rooney said this week Arsenal have no ‘superstar’ players with van der Vaart agreeing their lack of a true world class outlet is holding them back.
While some of Arsenal stars have been among the best in the league this season, the former Dutch international describes them as ‘an ideal son-in-law’, believing they would not cope with the demands of playing for bigger clubs.
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Wolverhampton Wanderers v Arsenal - Premier League
Arsenal suffered a major setback against Wolves (Picture: Getty)
‘Arsenal do not have any world class players – I agree with Wayne Rooney,’ van der Vaart told Sky Bet.
‘Perhaps it is better to say that Arsenal have ‘stars’ in their team – they have really good players, but nobody is world class.
‘To be a world class footballer, it’s not just about your performances, you need the attitude on the pitch.
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Will Arsenal bottle the league again? 😱 After blowing a 2–0 lead to bottom-of-the-table Wolves, that very question is seriously being asked as now, for the first time this season … the title race is not fully in Arsenal’s control. If Manchester City win all their remaining games, they are champions. It’s as simple as that. With Spurs and Chelsea next anything other than two wins could hand the title to Man City once again. #arsenal #premierleague #bottlers #footballnews #titlerace
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‘When I look at this Arsenal team, they are all ‘Ideal son-in-law’s,’ as we say in Dutch – they can play well but I don’t think any would succeed if they went to Real Madrid because the mentality is much harder and there is a lot more pressure.’
Arsenal are still fighting on four fronts having qualified for the knockout stages of the Champions League, booked their place in the Carabao Cup final and reached the fifth round of the FA Cup.
But van der Vaart is not having any talk of an unprecedented quadruple.
‘I don’t think Arsenal are strong enough to compete on all fronts and challenge for the treble or quadruple,’ he said.
‘Obviously, when you are still in all competitions the hope is there but to win everything, that is too difficult.’
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