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'Arsenal lack experience required to win trophies' - AC Milan's Kevin-Prince Boateng
The 24-year-old is confident his side can overcome the challenge of the Gunners to progress in the Champions League, and has revealed his spell at Tottenham helped him to grow up
14 Feb 2012 14:09:00
By Shane Farrington
AC Milan midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng has claimed Arsenal lack the required experience to win trophies, ahead of their upcoming Champions League knock-out tie.
The former Tottenham man believes Arsene Wenger’s side are incapable of performing to a high level on a regular basis, and is confident the current Serie A leaders will come out on top over the two legs.
"I'm not scared of Arsenal,” he told The Sun. "The problem with Arsenal is one day they play amazing football and then they play really badly.
"In the end they don't have balance. They either play unbelievable football or they don't know what they're doing.
"It comes down to inexperience. Arsenal don't know what you have to do to win titles - they're always close but they break down. All their players are young, of course they're hungry but they don't know how to get this target.
"Without the experience it's difficult - to take the last step, experience is what you need. To win the league or to reach the semi-final or final of the Champions League you need experience.
"There's always something missing at Arsenal. That bit is the experience - we have so much of that at Milan and I think that's what they need."
The former Ghana international also feels that a lack of investment in the transfer market will continue to hamper the north London side.
He added: "These days you must spend money if you really want to have success. At the end it doesn't matter if you spend maybe £20million too much - because you're trying to win cups. And if you want to win cups you have to bring in fantastic players.
"Arsenal do have fantastic young players but, of course, if you bring two or three superstars it's a lot different.
"Even the other teams get scared. If you see the opponent has all these big names you say to yourself: 'Oh my God, who are we playing against today?'
"They have fantastic young footballers, they play like Barcelona - one-touch football and movement off the ball - but at the end it's always the weakness of inexperience."
Despite criticizing the Gunners, Boateng conceded the Serie A giants will be weary of their opponents hitting form just in time for the return of the Champions League.
He said: "The problem when you have teams that are having their worst season is that they just wait for this one game to come out of the bulls**t. For them to win in Milan will get them out of the bulls**t.
"That's what we have to be aware of because there is a team coming with fantastic young footballers. OK, they're not having the best time but there's always one game that turns the page over so they're going to try to do everything to win."
The 24-year-old has impressed since joining AC Milan and despite failing to shine during his spell at Spurs, he believes his time at the club helped to shape him into a better player.
He added: "Tottenham didn't give me a chance and I didn't focus on work. But those problems helped me become a better player and man. I was on a downer because I wasn't playing and I was going out late to nightclubs and all that bulls**t."
"It was like a movie. I looked in the mirror and said 'What do you want? You want to go out every night with your friends? What is more important?' I answered 'I want to be a big player.'
"I saw many talents who were shooting stars. It could have been me. A friend of mine was the biggest talent at Hertha Berlin. But one day I ordered pizza and he delivered it. I didn't want to see myself like that.
"These things happen because maybe you think 'I've made it - I'm a big player now.' I had those thoughts. It's normal when you're young, but you have to understand how to handle it."
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The former Tottenham man believes Arsene Wenger’s side are incapable of performing to a high level on a regular basis, and is confident the current Serie A leaders will come out on top over the two legs.
"I'm not scared of Arsenal,” he told The Sun. "The problem with Arsenal is one day they play amazing football and then they play really badly.
"In the end they don't have balance. They either play unbelievable football or they don't know what they're doing.
"It comes down to inexperience. Arsenal don't know what you have to do to win titles - they're always close but they break down. All their players are young, of course they're hungry but they don't know how to get this target.
"Without the experience it's difficult - to take the last step, experience is what you need. To win the league or to reach the semi-final or final of the Champions League you need experience.
"There's always something missing at Arsenal. That bit is the experience - we have so much of that at Milan and I think that's what they need."
The former Ghana international also feels that a lack of investment in the transfer market will continue to hamper the north London side.
He added: "These days you must spend money if you really want to have success. At the end it doesn't matter if you spend maybe £20million too much - because you're trying to win cups. And if you want to win cups you have to bring in fantastic players.
"Arsenal do have fantastic young players but, of course, if you bring two or three superstars it's a lot different.
"Even the other teams get scared. If you see the opponent has all these big names you say to yourself: 'Oh my God, who are we playing against today?'
"They have fantastic young footballers, they play like Barcelona - one-touch football and movement off the ball - but at the end it's always the weakness of inexperience."
Despite criticizing the Gunners, Boateng conceded the Serie A giants will be weary of their opponents hitting form just in time for the return of the Champions League.
He said: "The problem when you have teams that are having their worst season is that they just wait for this one game to come out of the bulls**t. For them to win in Milan will get them out of the bulls**t.
"That's what we have to be aware of because there is a team coming with fantastic young footballers. OK, they're not having the best time but there's always one game that turns the page over so they're going to try to do everything to win."
The 24-year-old has impressed since joining AC Milan and despite failing to shine during his spell at Spurs, he believes his time at the club helped to shape him into a better player.
He added: "Tottenham didn't give me a chance and I didn't focus on work. But those problems helped me become a better player and man. I was on a downer because I wasn't playing and I was going out late to nightclubs and all that bulls**t."
"It was like a movie. I looked in the mirror and said 'What do you want? You want to go out every night with your friends? What is more important?' I answered 'I want to be a big player.'
"I saw many talents who were shooting stars. It could have been me. A friend of mine was the biggest talent at Hertha Berlin. But one day I ordered pizza and he delivered it. I didn't want to see myself like that.
"These things happen because maybe you think 'I've made it - I'm a big player now.' I had those thoughts. It's normal when you're young, but you have to understand how to handle it."
| Sign up with 188BET for a FREE bet up to £25 – Great Prices, Every Game |
|
| Open an account with Sportingbet today and get up to £50 in free bets! |
|
| Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25 |
|
| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
|
| Sign up with Paddy Power - Bet £10, Get £20! |
|
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