Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Arsenal coach: A Chelsea win will mean this for the title after ‘terrible' Watford game
ROBERT PIRES has warned the Arsenal squad they will hand Chelsea the title if they lose at Stamford Bridge.
Arsenal fan slams Wenger after Watford defeat
The Gunners legend, who works as a coach for the club, branded the team’s performance as “terrible” in Tuesday night’s shock 2-1 defeat to Watford at the Emirates.
As a result, third-placed Arsenal are now nine points off Antonio Conte’s Premier League leaders.
Gunners manager Arsene Wenger will once again be in the stands in west London, sitting with the home supporters, as he is still serving a four-game touchline ban.
Robert Pires believes Arsene Wenger's Arsenal will be out of the title race if they lose at Chelsea
If Chelsea beat Arsenal I think the Premier League is done
With the gap increasing to Chelsea in the table, Pires insists Arsenal must take their chance and bounce back on Saturday (12.30pm).
"It will be very difficult after the last game that we lost against Watford - it was terrible," Pires told FourFourTwo.
"We have another chance next Saturday. For me this is a big final for the Premier League. If Chelsea beat Arsenal I think the Premier League is done.
"Chelsea play very well, they are a very good team, very compact. They have the Italian philosophy, they play together.
Robert Pires has been working with the Arsenal first team in training
Antonio Conte's Chelsea sit nine points ahead of next closest Tottenham and Arsenal
"They are maybe stronger but we need to believe in this opportunity. I think this is the last opportunity."
If Arsenal do slip up, their place in the top four will also be under real threat, with Liverpool and Manchester City both just a point behind.
Arsene Wenger was criticised for his team selection against Watford, and he must get it right if they are to replicate September’s 3-0 victory over Chelsea in north London, which subsequently sparked the Blues’ 13-game winning run.
Would you like to receive news notifications from Daily Express?