New West Brom boss Sam Allardyce believes Arsenal are very much in a scrap with his side to avoid relegation from the Premier League.
The Gunners’ worst start to a season since 1974 sees them sit 15th in the Premier League table, just four points above the relegation zone and without a win in seven top-flight fixtures.
Their fourth defeat in six matches also saw them knocked out of the Carabao Cup quarter-finals by Manchester City on Tuesday after a 4-1 reverse.
And Allardyce – who replaced Slaven Bilic as Baggies boss earlier this month to take over a side currently seven points adrift of the Gunners in 19th – believes the defeat by Pep Guardiola’s men would have further knocked the confidence of Mikel Arteta’s players.
Asked if Arsenal were the West Midlands side’s rivals at the bottom, Allardyce, 66, said: ‘Absolutely. They haven’t won a Premier League game for almost double figures.
‘Getting beaten last night [Tuesday], even though not in the Premier League drains the confidence of Arsenal’s players. They will be wondering what has hit them.’
While Allardyce preferred a more bold approach when quizzed on Arsenal’s current struggles, Frank Lampard – whose Chelsea side face the Gunners on Boxing Day – refused to comment and claims they will expect the best version of their London rivals.
‘I don’t want to talk about what their battle is, they’re just a good team with a good manager, they’ve had some tough results recently,’ said Lampard.
‘It’s not my concern where they’re at, my concern is the team at face value and they’re a high quality team.
‘When you play a derby form does go out of the window, we have to expect the best Arsenal, well coached and lots of rotation.
‘I’m very at pains not to talk about other managers’ situations, I don’t know about the thousands of things he [Arteta] has to do on a day-to-day, like he doesn’t know mine.’
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