Arsenal lost their nerve and wasted best Premier League title chance in years, says former Gunner Alan Smith

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Anthony Ewin4 May 2016

Former Arsenal striker Alan Smith has lamented the club for not holding their nerve in the Premier League title race this season.

Arsenal beat Leicester 2-1 in February to move two points behind Claudio Ranieri's Foxes, but the Gunners have won just four of their 10 league games since then as Leicester went on to be crowned champions.

The Gunners have now gone 12 years without out winning the league, and Smith - who won two titles at Arsenal - believes that this should have been the club's season.

"It was their best chance for a number of years, but unlike Leicester they didn't hold their nerve when it mattered," Smith told Omnisport.

"You think of the performance at Manchester United going up there was pretty shapeless.

"It is a big, big shame for Arsenal. As much as I'm delighted for Leicester, it is a shame Arsenal couldn't hold their nerve when it mattered."

Wenger had to contend with hundreds of supporters protesting his role during Saturday's 1-0 win over Norwich, though their dissent was vastly outnumbered by the thousands of fans chanting the coach's name in the Emirates.

Smith said of Wenger's campaign: "This season won't be forgotten for many years for a variety of reasons and from an Arsenal perspective it will be one that got away for Arsene Wenger.

"He has obviously done the business in previous years, but this was one I'm sure he privately will be kicking himself that they couldn't keep it together when it mattered.

"The fans certainly think 'why didn't we do it'. I'm sure Arsene Wenger is thinking that and I'm sure the players are."

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