Mikael Silvestre believes Arsenal have a great chance to win the title – but must keep Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker fit.
The Gunners are well placed to do just that, two points behind leaders Leicester City.
And the former Arsenal defender thinks the partnership that the centre backs have formed is key to their hopes.
It is a good year for them to be champions. If you compare Arsenal to the other teams [in contention] they have a number of injuries, and yet, they are close to Leicester.
Koscielny and Mertesacker have formed a nice partnership. If they can still play together, I think they would be able to win it.
The duo complement each other well, having played together for the a number of seasons now, and it is those strengths which the Frenchman believes will be the making of their bid to win the league.
I think Laurent and Per have the qualities to stop the likes of Harry Kane, [Sergio] Aguero, [Anthony] Martial or [Wayne] Rooney.
They have enough experience. I think they showed that last year when they were playing together. I hope that this year they will stay fit and play together.
Silvestre has also been impressed with Olivier Giroud, who is in a purple patch of form scoring five in the last three, and thinks his compatriot deserves more credit than he is given.
He [Giroud] is a fox in the box. At Arsenal, he has many good players around him. They can give him assists.
I don’t know his stats this season but, even though he is often criticised, he shouldn’t be blamed. Arsenal are on top, I think he is doing well as Arsenal’s striker.
