Former Arsenal academy product Seb Larsson feels that Arsenal have lost their ‘fear factor’ and lack the aura they had before.
This statement does sound a little true considering the fact that Arsenal have had a bad start to the season and the creativity has taken a severe knock following the departures of famed midfielders Fabregas and Nasri.
The Swede, who oversaw a successful Euro qualifying campaign for his country last week, spoke on his return to the Sunderland training ground. The 26-year-old will today be playing at the club which made him what he is today. He said:
‘Even though they have not had a good start to the season, it is still a tough place to go. I am sure the fear factor has gone out of them a little.’
‘Since my time there, I have always followed them. I had a great time there and will always be thankful for what they did for me. I always want to see them do well.’
Larsson spent 3 years in the Arsenal academy and a further 3 more in-and-out of the north London club before moving on to Birmingham on-loan and then on a permanent deal in 2007. He was very much an integral part of the Birmingham team that nicked us to the Carling Cup and will be eager to repeat a similar fate today, which could see Arsenal would fall into the bottom three:
‘Beating Arsenal at Wembley was an unbelievable moment for me, it’s the only title I have won. What made it even sweeter was that it came against a top team.’
‘Arsenal in the bottom three? Well, for this one game I will be more than happy to make that happen.’
