Leicester manager Claudio Ranieri baffled by Arsenal Premier League title drought

drought

Claudio Ranieri is surprised Arsenal failed to win the title during his 11-year spell away from the Premier League.

When Ranieri left English football in 2004, the Gunners had just gone through the entire league season unbeaten.

Ranieri's Chelsea team finished runners-up that year, 11 points behind their London rivals, and reached the semi-finals of the Champions League for the first time in the club's history, but it was not enough for the Italian to keep his job and he was replaced by Jose Mourinho.

In the intervening time, while Ranieri has undertaken club jobs in Spain, Italy and France and been in charge of the Greece national team, the closest Arsenal have come to being champions again was when they were second behind Chelsea in Mourinho's maiden campaign.

However, ahead of Leicester's home game against Arsene Wenger's team on Saturday, Ranieri believes Arsenal are ready to mount a serious title challenge once again.

Arsenal have not won the title in over a decade.

"When I was at Chelsea, they were 'the Invincibles' said Ranieri.

"That was an unbelievable achievement, so it is surprising they have not won the league since.

"I don't know why Arsenal have had to wait so long, because Arsene Wenger is a good manager and he brings in good players. But maybe it is not so easy to replace players such as Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp, Fredrik Ljungberg and all the defenders.

"But now, again, Arsenal is a very good team (who) we respect a lot. (They are) smart, fast, technical - everything. They are fantastic, good quality. (They) move the ball very well, very quickly.

"They are ready to fight again for the title and it will be a very good match."