Arsenal title claim: 'Success will be getting to the last few games'

Arsenal's season can still be a successful one without winning any silverware according to former Gunners defender Lauren, after Mikel Arteta's side suffered last-minute heartbreak at the Etihad Stadium in their 2-2 draw against Manchester City.

Having fallen 1-0 down to an Erling Haaland strike, goals from Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel saw Arsenal take a 2-1 lead in the closing stages of the first-half before the pendulum once again swung in City's favour. Michael Oliver reduced the visitors to 10 men when he controversially sent Leandro Trossard off for time-wasting.

An immense second-half defensive display saw the Gunners come within seconds of snatching a famous victory as John Stones' equaliser rescued a point for Pep Guardiola's side and preserved their place at the top of the table ahead of their opposition who sit in fourth.

Nevertheless, Lauren, who was part of Arsenal's famous invincible side, believes positive campaign for his former club would see them, once again, compete for the title and not necessarily win it. "Success for Arsenal would again be getting to the final few games of the season and still be in with a chance of winning the Premier League title," he explained.

"However, I do think if Arsenal need a top striker not to replace Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus but to support them. They need a striker who can offer something different, someone to help manage the game time of the forward players across all competitions."

"If they have to play in every game then they will pick up injuries and towards the end of the season I think Arsenal will need to have another option in there.

"My opinion, the big success will be getting to the last games, challenging to win the Premier League. This will be a massive success because as I tell you, to compete against Man City, you need to get the best players in the world and you have to get over 90 points, to do that against Manchester City is not easy. In Spain or Italy 90 points is more than enough."

"At the moment Arsenal don’t have a player that can help Arsenal rotate with Bukayo Saka in the front line given all of the extra fixtures they have this year, Arsenal need to be looking for a striker in January to help support the squad."

When pushed on their need for an additional forward option, the Cameroonian told BoyleSports who offer the latest Premier League Odds: "Arsenal need a striker to help the current players achieve their goal. We know that Kai Havertz is a fantastic player and that Gabriel Jesus is a fantastic player but you need to have other options to try other systems.

"Changing strikers can change what the opposition needs to do and gives you another way of playing, you need all the help you can get if you are going to beat Manchester City to the title."