Didi Hamann says he still has doubts about an important Arsenal stars Declan Rice and David Raya after the Gunners were eliminated from the Champions League.
Mikel Arteta’s team delivered a cautious and unimpressive performance at the Allianz Arena on Wednesday night and were subsequently eliminated from Europe by Bayern Munich.
Hamann thinks it’s hard to picture this version of Arsenal winning major titles and has disclosed that he’s ‘uncertain’ about influential midfielder Rice and first-choice goalkeeper Raya.
Rice moved to Arsenal from West Ham for £105m last summer and has been widely praised for his displays in north London.
But Hamann doesn’t understand all the excitement and also has doubts about Raya, who took over from Aaron Ramsdale as Arteta’s top goalkeeper after joining on loan from Brentford.
‘You have to question if this team, and I know it is a very young team, is capable of winning a big title,’ said Hamann, a Champions League victor with Liverpool and a two-time Bundesliga champion with Bayern Munich, told talkSPORT.
‘I think they’ve got a very good defence, but I’m not sure about the ‘keeper. I don’t think you win a big title with a goalkeeper who doesn’t fill me with confidence.
‘It was his error coming 40 yards off his line in the first leg, it changed the entire tie. Then obviously they brought Rice and Havertz in, I don’t think they’ve improved from last season.
‘Xhaka went to Leverkusen and is having a fantastic season. I look at Declan Rice and people tell me he is the best central midfielder in Europe, but I’m yet to see it.’
Hamann has also discussed his compatriot Kai Havertz’s situation at Arsenal, suggesting he should not be played up front, as has often been the case this season.
‘Well I certainly don’t think he’s a centre-forward,’ Hamann added. ‘I think he’s best when he’s coming from behind and making these late runs.
‘When you play without a centre-forward, and he clearly isn’t, if everybody comes towards the ball it gets very congested and even more so when a team sits back like Bayern Munich did.
‘You see with Haaland, even though sometimes he doesn’t do an awful lot when the team has the ball, he always occupies two defenders and that creates space for someone else.
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‘Arsenal haven’t got that. When you get to a stage with 10 or 15 minutes to go and you are throwing balls into the box then there’s no one there to head it. His best position I think is an offensive midfielder.
‘To play without a centre forward I think you have to be an outstanding side. Arsenal is certainly not that good.’
Arsenal, who also lost to Aston Villa before their Champions League exit, will be desperate to get back to winning ways on Saturday when they visit Wolves.
