Exclusive:
Arsenal are currently fifth in the Premier League and before defeat to Liverpool last weekend were on a 10-game unbeaten run in all competitions – and Invincible star Lauren reckons there should be pressure on a Champions League place
Video Unavailable
Arteta invites Wenger to return to Arsenal in some capacity
Gunners legend Lauren believes Arsenal should be under pressure to finish in the top four this season.
And the title-winning member of the Invincibles team believes that pressure should come from within to raise the expectation levels under Mikel Arteta.
Arsenal have not reached the Champions League since 2017 and Lauren firmly believes that there is a place up for grabs in the top four this season.
Former Arsenal full back Lauren, now working for FIFA as a technical expert for talent development, said: “They must, we have to put pressure on ourselves always, both individually and collectively, to get to the Champions League places.
“That’s what I believe. You must always set high targets. They have to try and get back into the Champions League next season and then build on that for the following years because it makes such a difference getting into the top four.
(
Image:
Denis Doyle/Getty Images)
“There’s Liverpool, Chelsea, Man City and then maybe there’s one place open. The reality says that you cannot fight for the league. There’s still many points but Arsenal have shown with some of the displays before Liverpool, I believe this team can get to the Champions League places.
“This team can get back to the Champions League and, from then on, they can start to build to start something. But the target has to be to get into the Champions League because the reality is that if they hadn’t started so slowly, they might have been able to win the league.
“But the target now should be to get to the Champions League positions. I believe this team is capable of getting into the top four positions. To win the league is not impossible but it’s really, really difficult.”
Lauren was part of the 2002 title winning team and Arsene Wenger famously converted him from midfielder to right back as part of the brilliant Arsenal defence in 2003/04 which went through the whole season unbeaten.
Will Arsenal qualify for the Champions League this season? Comment here
The ex-Cameroon international now admires Arsenal’s Japan right back Takehiro Tomiyasu who has been such a hit in their new-look defence since arriving in the summer transfer window with keeper Aaron Ramsdale.
Lauren said: “Tomiyasu is a very good player, I like him. He’s settled very well. He looks comfortable and looks as if he has played there for years.
“They have a good, settled defence now. Gabriel, Ramsdale, what a fantastic game the keeper had at Leicester. It’s been a long time, I haven’t seen a performance like that for years. He is absolutely outstanding.”
Lauren, who lives in Seville and works part time as a TV pundit, is now working for FIFA on trying to improve the all round structure of African football.
Despite all of the African superstars and promise in major tournaments, the Continent has yet to win a World Cup and FIFA’s idea is to improve the overall level in domestic leagues.
Lauren has been working with the likes of former England boss Steve McClaren and ex-France defender Michael Silvestre on brainstorming sessions and will make visits to countries to try and improve facilities and coaching as he has a passion to give something back after his career.
He added: ““I’ve been waiting for this opportunity for so long. I’ve got so much to offer football and I’ve waited for this opportunity for so long. When you can help others reach their goals, it’s so satisfying. I want to give back.
“There’s many people working on this, I’m a small piece of the cake but we need to look at four things. Structural change, long term methodology, monitoring and application. These are the key issues we went through in the brainstorming session.
“We need a technical director, we need the right people, coaches with qualifications, many points we need to improve the game in Africa. You have to identify the right people to implement this, to get people who love what they are doing and are passionate about it.
“One of the biggest problems is the gap between the players playing in Europe and those playing in local leagues. You need 23 strong players in a squad at a World Cup and we need to raise the level.”
Read More
Read More
