'It wasn't perfect - but I am certainly not going to write Arsenal off'
· Yahoo Sports
Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton says Arsenal are "still a capable team" and that he does not rule them out of ending the season with at least one of the Premier League and Champions League trophies.
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The Gunners laboured to a goalless draw in Wednesday's quarter-final second leg against Sporting but their 1-0 first leg lead meant they reached successive semi-finals in the competition for the first time in their history and will take on Atletico Madrid for a place in the final.
"We know what the narrative will be; people will rip Arsenal to shreds for the way they attacked, or you could say how they didn't attack," Sutton told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast.
"But I do understand towards the end of the game it is about seeing it through. Why should they go Gung ho? The objective was all about going through and finding a way.
"It wasn't perfect by any means but out of possession and defensively they do a lot right.
"It's been a struggle for a while now and things do need to change, and people will be looking ahead to the game against Manchester City and writing Arsenal off.
"They are not creating enough and that's a huge issue for Mikel Arteta. I'm sure he's thinking about it every hour of the day. The wide players are not decisive enough.
"They have a lot of work to do but I take my hat of to Arsenal in the way they defend, and recover when they lose the ball. They are not perfect at the moment but I am certainly not going to write them off and rule them out of winning trophies because they have been a little bit ineffective.
"I still think they are a capable team and it may well click now before the end of the season in that final third. Arsenal could see it through in the Premier League and the Champions League."
Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds
On Match of the Day Champions League, Nedum Onuoha said: "In some ways, there is a lot of noise around Arsenal. Arteta and some of the players are hearing it. The questions are going to be more negative than maybe a month ago but that's because of the fact they've lost three of the last four.
"I think it's right for them to close up and say 'it's us against the world' but also it wasn't great against Sporting."
Stephen Warnock gave his view on Arteta pushing back in the media: "He obviously feels like media, everyone around and the fans, the anxiety in the crowd. He's trying to convince them that everything is good and fine. You don't have to convince everyone. If you're happy with what you're seeing.
"At this point of the season, I don't think you do enjoy football. I think you get over the line. The pressure is huge. To get over the line, for Arsenal to win a Champions League and Premier League is absolutely massive."