‘MOVE TO EMIRATES WAS KEY FACTOR IN GUNNERS DECLINE’
ARSENAL legend Nigel Winterburn could never tip Tottenham to win the title – and admits seeing them clinch silverware under Jose Mourinho would be “a nightmare” for every Gunners fan.
Winterburn helped Arsenal to two First Division championships under George Graham and a Premier League and FA Cup double under Arsene Wenger in 1998.
The former left-back, 56, believes that Arsenal’s decline as a serious force can be traced right back to their move from Highbury to the Emirates Stadium in 2006.
Ahead of today’s north London derby, Winterburn fears Mourinho’s titlechasers will continue to build on the work of previous boss Mauricio Pochettino (right). Winterburn said: “As an Arsenal man, I’ll never back Tottenham to win the league because I never want that to happen – but they have certainly made huge strides in recent seasons.
“Arsenal were so far ahead of Tottenham for a long time but the gap started to close under Pochettino and that’s continuing now under Mourinho.
“All the Arsenal supporters who I talk to obviously don’t like that.
“But the saving grace is that no trophies are being won by Spurs right now. If that happened, it would be a nightmare.”
Winterburn reckons champions Liverpool and Manchester City are still the teams to beat for any title aspirants. He added: “It’s such a bizarre season and I still think Liverpool and City are the teams to finish above.
“You could probably throw Chelsea in there as well but who will be champions? I really wouldn’t want to single anyone out, but I certainly think it will be a tighter title race than last year.”
As for Mikel Arteta’s misfiring Gunners, they head to Tottenham on the back of five defeats in 10 Premier League games.
Manchester United legend Roy Keane accused Arteta’s men of being “soft” after they were beaten at home by Wolves last week.
Winterburn is desperate to see the Gunners stop the rot, starting with a win against their hated rivals.
He added: “I think the problems really started to evolve with the move to the Emirates.
“Up until 2006, Arsenal were still very competitive under Arsene and we got to the Champions League final that year. “I think the statement from the club – ‘we need to move to a bigger ground to get to the next level’ – did coincide with Arsenal starting to fall away.
“You’d have to try and work out in your mind whether that’s the manager’s problem or the board’s problem.
“Was there a change in the money available for the recruitment of players?
“I think there are a whole host of factors you’ve got to look at to try and establish where and when it all went wrong. But, for me, that move to the Emirates seemed to be when the decline began.”