ROY KEANE pulled no punches in his assessment of Arsenal this afternoon.
The Gunners were easily beaten 2-0 by rivals Chelsea at Emirates Stadium.
Goals by Romelu Lukaku and Reece James sealed victory for the visitors.
And Keane believes it's going to be a 'long old season' for Arsenal – and that their young talent needs more help from senior players.
Fulfilling punditry duties for Sky Sports, the 50-year-old said: "It was very very comfortable (for Chelsea).
"They scored two, could have been five, six, seven maybe and I think if they really went for it in the second half.
"We saw the quality of Chelsea players, their confidence. They had a swagger, Chelsea, and you could see the shortcomings of Arsenal and on a match day there’s no hiding place.
"And it’s going to be a long old season for Arsenal.
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"You can’t keep looking back, you have to look at some of the senior players that are hanging around. There’s doubts over some of them lads. It’s hard to get that foundation.
"The younger players need a helping hand from these senior players, they need to stand up and be counted and prove what playing for a club like Arsenal should mean to them.
"(It's) probably good they’re not in Europe because they’ve lost their last two league games.
"(Mikel) Arteta is learning on the job, this is his first job as manager."
Keane also claimed that Arsenal would take a place in the top seven now if offered, and that they can't attract top players in the transfer market.
He added: "They’d take (top seven) now definitely.
"You need established players in your dressing room. Arsenal are going down the road of buying young potential, that’s what the club has decided to do, they’re thinking hopefully we can sell these players on.
You have to buy the established players. Which top players really want to come to Arsenal?
"You have to spend the big money for these lads. Man Utd buy (Raphael) Varane at centre-half, Liverpool buy (Virgil) Van Dijk.
"You have to buy the established players. Which top players really want to come to Arsenal?
"If Lukaku had a choice to pick Arsenal or Chelsea he would choose Chelsea any day of the week.
"There’s players at Arsenal on huge wages, you can’t shift them, settled in London, cushy lives.
"You have players here that the manager doesn’t want anything to do with them, they give out silly contracts."
Things don't get any easier in the Premier League for the Gunners, who currently sit 19th, as they travel to face champions Manchester City at the Etihad next weekend.
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