Former England international Carlton Palmer insists that Mikel Arteta cannot replicate the style of Manchester City at Arsenal because the players simply aren’t good enough.

The Gunners are in dire straits after an absolutely appalling start to the season.

Arsenal have not scored a goal in the Premier League and have lost 2-0 to both Brentford and Chelsea, and been thumped 5-0 by City.

Arteta, of course, worked as Pep Guardiola’s assistant at the Etihad Stadium between 2016 and 2019.

He has routinely attempted to implement a style of football in which Arsenal keep possession, pass the ball, and press high up the pitch.

This season, that has not paid any dividends and Palmer believes that the tactical style is actually limiting some of the club’s best players, including Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

The Gabon international scored just 10 goals last season, in 29 games, having scored 22 times in 36 games the campaign prior.

Speaking exclusively to The Transfer Tavern, Palmer said: “You look at Arteta who’s coming in there, he wants to give it a Man City flare, but they haven’t got Man City players.

“The striker, who will score you 25, 30 goals, has gone off the boil because now it’s pass, pass, pass. He’s not that player. He need the ball fed through for him to run onto to score.

“He needs the ball gone early for him to score. Arsenal have lost that identity of what they’re about. Arteta’s trying to bring a Man City feel to Arsenal when he hasn’t got the players to do that. So I’ve said before the start of the season, I think Arsenal will struggle, I really do believe they’ll struggle, I don’t see them being any better than ninth or tenth in the league.”