Arsene Wenger's stubbornness cost Arsenal chance to win title last season says Andy Cole

Manchester United legend Andy Cole claims Arsene Wenger's stubbornness has cost Arsenal a chance to win the Premier League title in the 2015/16 season. It was Leicester City who surprised everyone as the Foxes went on to clinch the title in dramatic fashion in the last campaign.

Claudio Ranieri played a key role as he saw his side win the title comfortably as they were confirmed champions in the first week of May. Leicester finished the season with 81 points, 10 points ahead of second place Arsenal.

United, Chelsea, Manchester City and Liverpool were all struggling in the league, which led the three of these four clubs change managers earlier in the summer. Despite the top teams in England struggling in the previous term, Arsenal failed to take advantage and win the league.

Last summer, Wenger decided against signing an outfield player and Cole has suggested that Arsenal's lack of transfer activities in the summer of 2015 cost them the title. The former Red Devils star even suggested that the Emirates club are unlikely to win the league this season.

"Arsenal's best chance of winning the Premier League was last season. Will they win it this season? No," Cole told 888Sport.com.

"They will be involved in the mix but the more people or experts who say Arsenal need this player or that player then Arsene decides he doesn't need them. Arsenal might have missed the boat," he said.

United appointed Jose Mourinho as the man to replace Louis van Gaal earlier in May. Cole explained that the arrival of the Portuguese tactician has brought the fear factor back to Old Trafford.

"I'm hoping the good times are returning and you can certainly see a swagger. All the players are talking about what he (Mourinho) wants to win," he stressed.

"The few games we've had so far you can see the fear factor returning and that's what Manchester United is all about.

"These past few years teams have gone to Old Trafford believing they can win. When you played under Sir Alex Ferguson teams would just hope they wouldn't get beat by five. Mourinho is bringing that back now and they're starting to look like the old United," he added.

Read the full 888sport interview with Andy Cole here.