Arsenal hero Emmanuel Petit talks Odegaard, Saliba's injury and "bottling" the title

Emmanuel Petit formed a formidable partnership with compatriot Patrick Vieira in the 1997/98 season, as Arsenal won the Premier League and FA Cup double in his debut campaign in North London. 

Now, the Frenchman watches Arsenal from afar but he notices similarities between last season under Mikel Arteta at the Emirates and when the Gunners hit their peak under the man that brought him to the club – Arsene Wenger. 

"I’m very proud that Arsenal are back where they belong (the Champions League). There’s been years of frustrations, for at least four or five seasons we didn’t see Arsenal where they should be. So I’m very happy that they’re back in the Champions League but, for me, this is the first step," began the 52-year-old. 

"Building a culture and a club image, you do both on and off the pitch. Last season was great but the next is more important because they need to stay at the top now. I don’t want to see things coming back the way it was a couple of years ago, or like what’s happening with Chelsea or with Liverpool before Klopp came in to the club.  

"I want Arsenal to stay at the top and to fight every single season with City for the title and to play regular Champions League games – quarter-finals, semi-finals, even try to reach the final. This is where I want to see Arsenal competing every single time and with this young team, they’ve got a lot of years coming together in front of them.  

"Arsenal’s policy a couple of years ago was selling their best player every single season so now, they need to come back to the way it was 15 years ago. The DNA is there on the pitch, now they need to structure everything to bring serenity on and off the pitch as well which is very important for Arsenal’s future." 

The Gunners are the youngest squad in the Premier League and Petit believes that, if they can keep the squad together, it will bode well for the future. While the Frenchman refused to pick out one single player, he dished out praise aplenty. 

Martin Odegaard won possession in the attacking third more times (49) than any other player in the Premier League last season. And the former Arsenal midfielder is a huge admirer of the current club captain. 

"Odegaard is a quality player and has been this season. But for me, it would be unfair on the rest of the team if I named two or three players because I’ve been very impressed with the whole team. The mentality of the team, the way they play, the way they suit Arteta’s philosophy on the pitch." 

The Norwegian has kept one of Arsenal’s own, Emile Smith-Rowe, out of the team. However, Petit believes there’s more to come from the 22-year-old next season if he can feature for the Gunners on a more regular basis. 

"I’m wondering about the players who couldn’t play more often, like Emile Smith-Rowe for example, I hope he won’t be too frustrated because he’ll get time next season. Playing in the Champions League, rotation will be important so I think these types of players will come back stronger next season." 

The ex-Monaco, Barcelona and Chelsea midfielder acknowledges that his former club have to spend money and recruit well if they’re to fight on both a domestic and continental front in the 2023/24 campaign. 

"They need at least five/six players, starting in the centre of defence. You could see that as soon as Saliba was injured, it wasn’t the same defence. Some players looked heavy, tired both mentally and physically. You could see it was very difficult because they were playing every single game.  

"Most of the time, Arteta put the same eleven on the pitch so five or six would add some rotation to the team. If Arsenal could add more midfield players, such as Declan Rice or Moises Caicedo, whatever’s coming into the dressing room must be quality players that can bring competition into the squad.  

"Martinelli was brilliant this season, he’s improved so much, but he has no competition to earn his place. Leandro Trossard can play different positions but I think Arsenal need more competition in wide areas and probably another striker." 

Ultimately, Arsenal fell short against a Manchester City side that at the weekend secured the treble. City pipped them to the Premier League title, won the first all-Manchester FA Cup final and beat Inter Milan in Istanbul on Saturday. 

"You can’t compare the quantity and quality of players with Manchester City," continued Petit. 

"Look at what they did against Chelsea. They changed so many players and they still won the game. Of course, it’s against Chelsea but Guardiola always makes four or five changes every single game so you don’t see any impact on the quality of play.   

"When you have the quality and the luxury to put big players on the bench to rest them for the next game, Arteta couldn’t do that, it’s as simple as that." 

Some supporters and pundits alike claim that Arsenal ‘bottled’ the Premier League title but Emmanuel Petit isn’t one of them as the World Cup winner insists that going up against Manchester City is a tough task for any team. 

"I don’t agree with the criticism. I have heard since the draw with Liverpool, loss against Manchester City, draw with Southampton. I can understand people’s frustrations but I won’t be part of the criticism because I know where Arsenal came from in the last two/three seasons. I know Arsenal are one of the youngest teams in the Premier League, they’ve been leading the Premier League for months and months.  

"They don’t have the same quantity and quality of players that Manchester City do. (Mikel) Arteta couldn’t rotate, you could see in the last few weeks that some players were exhausted mentally and physically. I’m very frustrated about the Liverpool game and Southampton game at home but for the rest, what can I say? When they lost at Manchester City, look at what they did against Real Madrid, City are the main team in Europe as they have been for years now, just as in the Premier League.  

"They are the team to beat every single season, the way they play, the way they win games and titles. I know, again, where Arsenal came from a couple of years ago. I know what Arteta is doing since his arrival in the dugout. It was very difficult in the beginning. For those criticising Arsenal, could they have believed that they would have came so far this season? No one could predict that so I think it’s unfair to say that they were scared or felt the pressure of losing the title because they’re young.

"They’ve improved so much in the space of 18 months. They’ve had some big injuries as well, which haven’t helped the team during the season with Saliba or Jesus so I won’t be part of the critics. I’d want to say to them congratulations because I know how hard it is to win a Premier League.  

"It can’t be easy when City are fighting for the same position as you, so you have to be proud of the season that Arsenal has made because they finished second and I’m very curious and excited about what they can do next season. 

"I want Arsenal to add more quality and quantity of players because next season will be even harder. You’ve brought me so much happiness on the pitch, it was a joy to watch you and I’m just like you, I’m frustrated about what happened in the last couple of weeks but you’ve learnt so much, you’ve improved so much and so I’m very excited for next season."

Emmanuel Petit speaking to WhoScored.com on behalf of Genting Casino