Arsenal are the 'best team in the world' - but need to get over 'mental collapse' and bypass 'nervousness' to land major honours

Arsenal rounded off their perfect UEFA Champions League league phase campaign with a 3-2 win over FC Kairat at the Emirates. After the match, Rory Smith called them "the best team in the world" and Steven Gerrard believed they are "better equipped" to win the Premier League. But Joe Cole warned that The Gunners need to get over the "mental collapses" they suffered in previous seasons.

Arsenal completed the first perfect league phase of the UEFA Champions League on Wednesday evening, beating FC Kairat 3-2 at the Emirates.

Viktor Gyokeres, Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz - the German making his first start for Arsenal in almost a year - were on the scoresheet as their opponents from Kazakhstan were unable to complete a late fightback.

But there is still a major doubt hanging over The Gunners' four-front trophy charge, according to Joe Cole.

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The former Chelsea star insisted that Mikel Arteta and his team need to get over the "mental collapse" of previous campaigns and bypass the "nervousness" present at their home ground.

Cole said: "The only thing they need to get over is this sort of mental collapse they tend to bring. I've been talking to my friends who have been going there. It's in the stadium, nervousness.

"You can feel it when you go there. Mikel Arteta has got to find a way to get around that."

Highlights: Arsenal complete historic perfect league phase in style

Video credit: TNT Sports

And Ally McCoist agreed with Cole's assessment, arguing that the tension from the stands will be felt by the players on the pitch.

"I don't care what anybody says," McCoist replied. "It transfers onto the pitch. If you're in that crowd and there's a natural nervousness, and you're concerned, and you're worried, it transmits onto the pitch.

"Players then have to take an extra responsibility to try and get above that."

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But Steven Gerrard argued that there is reason to believe that this season could be different for Arsenal, who sit top of the Premier League with a four-point cushion over both Manchester City and Aston Villa.

"I would say they're better equipped for it now than they have been in previous years," the ex-Liverpool captain said. "I think the squad's stronger. The set-piece situation now, they seem to have more ways to win.

"And the other big thing is, are City in transition? Are Liverpool in transition? So maybe them dropping off could help Arsenal as well.

"But they're definitely better equipped for it. I mean eight from eight [in the Champions League], you've got to give them some credit."

Gyokeres: Arsenal 'can compete against anyone in Europe'

Video credit: TNT Sports

And journalist Rory Smith was clear that he felt The Gunners are the best team on the planet and their depth makes them a strong contender to scoop silverware this season.

"They're the best team in the world at the moment, Arsenal," Smith insisted. "They are. To win all eight games, to be top of the Premier League.

"They might not be the most fluent that they've been, but their squad is so deep. I mean Havertz being back, scoring tonight is really important.

"There's a lot to play for and it's stressful. It's stressful competing. For the fans, it is genuinely... like you wake up, and you think about it, and they've not won the league for 21 years. The fans are really into it."

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