Arsenal icon Emmanuel Petit has highlighted the two Gunners players who he believes are not up to the standard needed to win a Premier League title.
Mikel Arteta's men have been involved in the last two title races, losing narrowly to Manchester City in both cases despite collecting 84 points in 2022-23 and 89 in the following campaign.
City's dramatic fall this season, which at one point saw them go winless in seven games, has been something of a gift for the Gunners, with Pep Guardiola's side now firmly out of the competition.
But Arsenal have been unable to capitalize on their rivals' misfortunes and are currently third on 36 points, behind Nuno Espirito Santo's Nottingham Forest.
Instead, it has been Liverpool who have risen up the table under new manager Arne Slot, catapulting themselves into an eight-point lead at the top heading into 2025 with three consecutive wins to close out the year.
Petit has now explained why the Gunners fell behind the Reds and picked out the two stars who are “not good enough to fight for the Premier League title”, in an interview with Ladbrokes.
Mikel Arteta's men have struggled to take advantage of Manchester City's struggles so far this season.
Emmanuel Petit played 118 times for the club and explained why they were so far behind Liverpool
He said: 'Arsenal looked nervous at the start of the season. They made silly mistakes in games and lost silly points. Easy red cards, you know. This has cost them.
“But when you lose Martin Odegaard and you lose Bukayo Saka, your two best players, it's difficult to handle that. Arsenal have a strong squad, but they don't have a bench like Liverpool.
“Saka's absence for a few weeks is a big blow, but now other players must come in, step forward and take responsibility.
“I've been waiting for some players to reach a level and, to be honest, I'm quite frustrated. I'm still waiting for them to reach the next level.
'I'm thinking of Gabriel Martinelli, for example. I'm not happy with Martinelli. He had a good game against Crystal Palace a few days ago, but that's not enough.
“When you look at his career and how he started in the first team, around the same time as Saka… when you look at how Saka has improved, year after year, and become one of the best players in the Premier League, I'm thinking “when is that going to come from Martinelli?”
'He's not the only one; Gabriel Jesus is the same. He's been playing well lately, but that's not enough. I'm sorry, but that's not enough.'
Petit also warned that Arsenal's team was not at Liverpool's level and that the Gunners would struggle to compete.
Petit has selected Gabriel Martinelli as a player who lacks quality for a title race
The Arsenal icon also suggested that Gabriel Jesus, who has five goals in two, is not good enough.
“If you want to win titles and compete every season for the best prizes, you need regularity and consistency in your performances, and you have to take responsibility when your best players are injured,” he added. .
“Some players in that team are simply not good enough to fight for the title. That's my opinion. But since Arteta has no options, he has to play with them.
'Honestly, do you think Gabriel Martinelli would get into that Liverpool team? No. So how do you compete with that? Raise your level. You know, you've been in the club for years. You have the opportunity to play for one of the best clubs in Europe. Take your responsibility.
“Or, if you're not good enough, then the club will have to make a decision about you at the end of the season. I'm sorry to say it, but I'm sick and tired of seeing some of these guys sign contract extensions, for four or five years. On what? Based on what?
Petit told Martinelli to step up and show the Gunners more in Saka's absence.
'You're playing for Arsenal, you're not playing for a mid-table team, you know? That means your expectations have to rise. Your mentality, everything, you have to contribute more,' said the Frenchman.
“And if you can't, then that means, to me, that you don't have the talent to stay at Arsenal.” I'm sorry to say that.
'We have seen his quality in patches, but it is not enough. He is still young and can recover quickly, so playing so regularly is not a problem for him. Come on; “You have to show more on the field.”
Martinelli and Jesus start in the top three for the New Year's Day clash against Brentford.
A World Cup winner, Petit made 118 appearances for Arsenal between 1997 and 2000, lifting the Premier League and FA Cup in the early years of Arsene Wenger's tenure.
The Gunners have the chance to make it three wins in a row with a trip to Brentford on New Year's Day, as Thomas Frank's men look to end their three-game winless streak. Both Jesus and Martinelli will start in the top three along with Ethan Nwaneri.