Alan Shearer fires warning to Arsenal as problems deepen

Premier League legend Alan Shearer has sent a warning to Arsenal that they face years of problems if they don’t sort out their off-the-field issues.

The Gunners have endured a glut of stale years – with three consecutive finishes outside the top four of the Premier League, which have led to a lack of Champions League football.

The north London club haven’t won a title since the Invincibles in 2003/04, with three FA Cup triumphs their only successes since.

Arsene Wenger departed after 22 years in 2018, before Unai Emery was sacked on Friday after 18 months in charge.

Freddie Ljungberg has now taken the reins on a temporary basis, but oversaw Arsenal’s eighth straight match without a win when the Gunners drew 2-2 with Norwich on Sunday.

That performance at Carrow Road bore the hallmarks of a modern Arsenal performance, with defensive mayhem seeing Teemu Pukki and Todd Cantwell both find the net.

The backline of Shkodran Mustafi, David Luiz, Calum Chambers and Sead Kolasinac was a monument to underspending in recent years.

And former Newcastle and England striker reckons to sort out the problems on the pitch, the behind the scenes needs to gets its house in order first.

“Before Arsenal have any chance of improving they have to sort themselves out behind the scenes,” Shearer said in his Sun column.

“If they don’t, we will still be talking about the same issues on the pitch for the next two or three years as we have the last few.

“If nothing changes, it really wouldn’t surprise me if things get worse at the Emirates before they get better.

“If Arsenal are not careful, then it could take years for them to get back to where they have been used to.

“For me, the Gunners have no chance of making the top four.”