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Alan Smith: 'Arsenal need to show more bottle to win Premier League'

Alan Smith tells Sports Mole that Arsenal need to fix their "mental block" if they are to win the Premier League title again.

Former Arsenal striker Alan Smith has claimed that Arsene Wenger's team need to show "a bit more bottle" if they are to win the Premier League title again.

The North London outfit have not lifted the much-coveted trophy since 2004, having fallen away from the race in recent seasons.

With Chelsea and Manchester United having disappointing campaigns, Arsenal were in contention for the crown in the first half of this season, but they eventually finished second in the table, 10 points behind champions Leicester City.

Smith, who won two league titles and an FA Cup while at Arsenal, believes that the players are good enough to win the top flight, but their mentality is preventing them from doing so.

"They need to show a bit more mental resilience, a bit more bottle, if you like," Smith told Sports Mole. "You think of the 3-2 defeat to Manchester United when they basically fell apart. The shape was all over the shop. They failed when it mattered.

"There is quality there and Leicester have shown what can be achieved with real determination and team spirit as well as that ability. Arsenal have got to try and just fix that mental block that they've had over the last few years when push comes to shove."

Meanwhile, Smith has admitted that he would be "surprised" if the club offered Wenger a new contract.

Alan Smith was speaking at online bookmaker Betway's Euro 2016 Kick-Off Show. Watch the video and read more in-depth Euro 2016 opinion at blog.betway.com.

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger watches on during the game with Southampton on December 26, 2015
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2Liverpool28197265263964
3Manchester CityMan City28196363283563
4Aston Villa29175760421856
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs28165759421753
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd28152113939047
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham2912894650-444
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2811985044642
9Wolverhampton WanderersWolves28125114244-241
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle281241259481140
11Chelsea27116104745239
12Fulham29115134344-138
13Bournemouth2898114152-1135
14Crystal Palace2878133348-1529
15Brentford2975174154-1326
16Everton2887132939-1025
17Luton TownLuton2957174260-1822
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2967163551-1621
19Burnley2945202963-3417
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2835202474-5014


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