Brady: Gunners can go distance

Liam Brady says Arsenal’s Premier League title credentials now have to be taken seriously and expects Arsene Wenger to spend this month.

Arsenal withstood a late rally to beat Aston Villa 2-1 at Villa Park to return to the top of the table and Brady, head of the club’s youth academy, feels they can go the distance this season.

“You’d have to say now going into the middle of January they are genuine contenders,” Brady said. “People are writing other teams off who are eight points behind so I think they are genuine contenders.”

Just two points separate the top three but while Brady concedes Manchester City and Chelsea represent Arsenal’s biggest obstacles to securing a first title in a decade, he feels both have weaknesses.

“Manchester City look super strong, particularly at home, but I think they were a bit fortunate to get a result over the weekend at Newcastle (a 2-0 away win),” Brady told RTÉ.

“Newcastle had a number of opportunities and a very good goal disallowed. City do have some weaknesses in defence, but, going. forward they look outstanding and Chelsea keep grinding out results without looking that impressive. They’re probably the biggest dangers to Arsenal.”

Theo Walcott’s season-ending injury has increased the pressure on Wenger to bolster his offensive options and ease the burden on Olivier Giroud. Brady anticipates “a bit of business will be done”.

He said: “I think there’s every chance. He’ll have a look at what calibre of player is available, he has the money to spend and I think he would be willing to spend but at this time of the year, the really, really top players are in short supply. But I think a bit of business will be done by Arsenal.”

Per Mertesacker captained Arsenal on his 100th appearance for the club at Villa Park and the Getman believes the win sent a strong warning to their title rivals. Coming after the rest of the top six had won over the weekend, Mertesacker echoed the thoughts of Wenger that the result had been the perfect response to growing pressure.

He said: “All the teams in the top seven won, no-one dropped any points. There was a bit of pressure, the team could feel that, but we responded. I think everyone was expecting that we may drop points.

“That was very important, to let the other teams see that Arsenal are alive and that we can respond. We look at ourselves and think we are good enough to respond to any challenge they give us.”

Mertesacker added: “It is really tight at the top. There is no chance to drop any points, so we have to show the other teams that we can feel the pressure but we can respond. That is really vital.”

Mertesacker is in talks with Arsenal over extending his contract, as is full-back Bacary Sagna, whose current deal expires in the summer.

The scenario is the same for Wenger, although the 64-year-old maintained at the weekend there was “no big major doubt” over the negotiations, with reports a positive conclusion could be announced shortly.