Stoke won 2-1 over Arsenal on Saturday and the Gunners are now six points behind Chelsea and Liverpool.
The Dane said: “I think with the way the other teams are playing, it’s going to be really hard for them.
“They are a fantastic football side but they are just lacking that bit of physicality.
“When Chelsea came here, they matched us in the challenges but Arsenal weren’t quite there.
“That’s the difference. They lack that bit of spine you need.
“They want to play all the time and sometimes you have to work hard and earn that opportunity to play your football.
“I’ve played against Arsenal a lot of times and I expected much more of them.
“They have their excellent players, like Cesc Fabregas. But they didn’t find the fifth gear they normally do.
“Once we got the second goal it felt like WE were cruising. They totally lost belief. I think they expected a bit of an easier ride and no one’s going to get that here.”
