Adams predicts bleak future for Arsenal

Tony Adams believes his Arsenal’s eight year wait for a trophy is set to continue as they are “miles off” winning the Premier League.

The former Arsenal captain has watched closely as the club have gone from champions in 2004 to a side just scraping into the top four in 2013, and the 46-year-old believes there is a lot of work to be done if they are to return to the summit of English football in the near future.

“It’s time that Arsenal won something again, even the FA Cup or League Cup,” Adams told The Sun. “But I can’t see it, to be honest.

“They are still not good enough in certain areas of the team. And they are miles off the title.”

During his 19-year career at the club, Adams made 669 appearances and lifted 10 major trophies under both George Graham and Arsene Wenger.

His rock-solid partnership with Martin Keown is something Arsenal fans have dreamt about in recent seasons with their defensive problems, but the ex-England captain revealed that his offers to help the club in recent times have fallen on deaf ears.

Following Peter Hill-Wood’s decision to retire from his role as chairman, a new figurehead was required within the club and Adams immediately threw his hat in the ring.

However, the club chose 73-year-old Chips Keswick as their new chairman, a decision Adams was surprised by.

“I read an interview with Peter saying they wanted younger blood on the board but it was not easy finding people willing to take on second jobs who were not money-orientated,” he added. “I thought I ticked boxes, so I wrote to Peter and said ‘I’ve got a statue outside and I know a bit about the club’s principles and values’.

“I didn’t hear anything back, which was unusual for Peter, but I know he has been ill.

“But if they just wanted a figurehead, they should have gone for me. I think it would have been a better visionary decision than Chips, even though I love him to bits. But maybe the owner thinks that Chips is better politically than me.

“He was probably the only one who spoke to the 30-percent owner of the club Alisher Usmanov and was good at reaching out.

“But if Chips wants to pick up the phone, I will be happy to have lunch with him.”

Adams also raised concerns about the future of the club when Wenger’s tenure comes to an end. The Frenchman has one year left on his current contract and reports have linked him with a move to Paris Saint-Germain once it expires.

And Adams believes that contingency plans should be made in case the boss opts to leave, again offering his services to help with the succession planning.

“They should be lining up the new manager,” he said. “Chief executive Ivan Gazidis is in a tricky situation and I think he could do with some help.

“I don’t think any other coach can do any better than Arsene. But it always comes down to players.

“You can’t win things if you keep selling your best players.”