In the 2022-2023 season, Arsenal started off as the league leaders in the Premier League for a significant portion of the campaign. However, they experienced a late-season collapse and lost the title to Manchester City. Former Arsenal captain William Gallas, who had also played for Chelsea in the mid-2000s, expressed his belief that Mikel Arteta’s team would not be able to challenge for the title due to a lack of strong characters in the dressing room.

During a conversation with Lord Ping, Gallas stated, “Arsenal is capable of winning important games, such as the one against Man City, but we expect them to drop points, and we don’t know why. The game against Newcastle was a reflection of that. We all know how tough it is to play against Newcastle, but Arsenal should have come away with three points. That’s the difference between a team with strong characters and one without. Manchester City has plenty of character, and we saw that in their wins over Manchester United and Sheffield United, especially the latter in the last minute.”

“We are aware of how challenging the Premier League is, and you need players who can provide security for the team. You need the right strikers and defenders. Arsenal has a good squad, but they lack a player who can pull them out of tough situations. Currently, they don’t have that player.”

Gallas is emphasizing the absence of strong personalities and leadership within the Arsenal team, particularly during crucial matches and difficult periods of the season. He believes that Arsenal needs a standout player who can provide leadership and help the team overcome challenges.