Ex-Liverpool midfielder Nigel Spackman thinks Arsenal have gone backwards under Unai Emery this season and need to focus on qualifying for the Champions League by winning the Europa League.
Arsenal were taken to the cleaners by Liverpool at Anfield on Saturday evening as they failed to hold on to a lead and slipped to a 5-1 defeat.
With the Gunners having impressed at points this season, many felt they would be able to return to the Champions League by finishing in the top four under Emery.
But Spackman, watching Arsenal crumble as Liverpool surged forward, believes that the Europa League is now their focus and to make matters worse in the Premier League, Manchester United are now pushing them.
"Not on this performance, no", Spackman said on LFC TV after the match when asked if Arsenal have improved.
"But I think he's [Emery] got a lot of injuries and he doesn't have a lot of strength in depth.
"The Europa League is their focus now as they're not going to get in through their league position; Man United are breathing down their necks.
"I don't think they have any leadership.
"I think this Arsenal team have gone backwards because they've had no investment."
Arsenal spent around £50m in the summer transfer window in a bid to hand Emery the tools to push the side back into the top four.
It remains to be seen whether the Gunners will splash the cash in the rapidly approaching January transfer window to give their top four hopes a shot in the arm.
They are now 16 points behind Liverpool in the league.
