Mikel Arteta STORMS OUT of post-match Sky Sports interview after questions about Arsenal’s failure to sign a striker and the title race as 1-1 draw at Man United leaves Gunners 15 points adrift
Mikel Arteta walked out of a TV interview when he was asked about Arsenal’s fading title hopes following their draw with Manchester United.
The Gunners were held 1-1 at Old Trafford and now trail leaders Liverpool by 15 points with a game in hand.
Reporter Patrick Davison stopped Arteta leaving his post-match interview once to ask about a final question about the title race, but the Spaniard refused to answer and made a hasty exit.
Asked in a separate press conference if Arsenal’s challenge is finally over, Arteta said: ‘I don’t want to say that, but today the frustration is we didn’t win a game and you are obligated to win every single match if you want a chance to do that.’
The result at Old Trafford dealt another hammer blow to their flailing title charge, missing out on three valuable points against a struggling Man United side.
Dropping points for a third game running, it means Liverpool side only need a maximum of 16 points from their remaining nine outings to be crowned champions.
Mikel Arteta stormed out his post-match interview after being probed on his striker struggles
He was then asked if Arsenal were out of the title race, which he provided no response to
Arsenal were once again largely toothless up front, evidently struggling without an out-and-out striker at their disposal.
They required midfielder Declan Rice to come to the rescue to salvage a point after Bruno Fernandes opened the scoring late in the first half.
With Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus out for the season, Arteta has been forced to find solutions from outside the attacking department, living to regret not bolstering his forward options in January.
Mikel Merino, who traditionally operates as a central midfielder, was once again deployed as a number nine but failed to enjoy much success.
Gunners fans had hoped that the Spaniard would be the surprise savior to their attacking injury woes after he bagged a brace off the bench against Leicester in February.
However. it appears that cameo only acted to give Arsenal false hope – and club icon Paul Merson has blasted Arteta for not adding to his ranks properly in the winter transfer window.
‘It is such an art playing as a centre forward,’ he said. ‘They put a £60m bid in for Ollie Watkins in January, go £65m! It’s five million.
‘Do £70m. It’s like they just want to get by. Arteta was a midfielder and was very good but I’ve played up front, it is a hard position.
Arsenal are now 15 points behind runaway leaders Liverpool after dropping points again
‘When they play 10 behind the ball, you need that centre forward who will get in the box. That little bit of guile. I can’t remember Merino touching the ball. Then you have Nwaneri out on the right, he is 17. He is a kid.
‘Trossard was bought as an understudy to Saka and Martinelli. Does that front three get in Fulham’s team? No. Where are Fulham?’
Former Liverpool star Jamie Redknapp echoed Merson’s sentiment, comparing Arsenal’s state of affairs to their title rivals.
‘Liverpool have so many players that can give you that goal threat,’ Redknapp added. ‘I look at Arsenal right now and think who is going to get that goal?
‘It ends up coming from the defensive midfielder. That’s what they are lacking. Every single Arsenal fan knows it.’
Arsenal will now feel their best hope of silverware will be in the Champions League, with the club all but certain to be in the quarter-finals after thrashing PSV 7-1 in their last 16 first leg.
They will look to get back to winning ways in the return leg, albeit a dead rubber, as the Dutch side visit the Emirates on Wednesday.
