Former Arsenal striker Alan Smith has challenged the club to end their poor run of form against sides in the Premier League's top four.

The Gunners are currently fifth in the division and Smith believes that results against the bigger sides have to change if they are to push on in the long term.

He told Sky Sports News: "You think back to last season, they got six knocked past them at the Etihad, six at Chelsea and five at Liverpool and that's got to change, of course it has.

"I think it's got to the stage now where it's psychological more than anything else, they've got a mental block. Defensively, they're not as a good as City or Chelsea so they've got a long way to go before they're challenging for the title.

"They've got to set up with a bit more caution more than anything else."

Arsene Wenger's side travel to Manchester City this afternoon.

Written by
Paul Gorst