With Arsenal failing to beat Manchester United on Sunday, it feels like the Premier League title race is all but decided.
United opening the scoring at Old Trafford through Bruno Fernandes, who found the back of David Raya’s net with a fabulous free-kick. Declan Rice equalized for Arsenal, as the game finished 1-1.
Liverpool is now 15 points clear at the top of the Premier League standings, needing just 16 points from its last nine games to clinch the title. While the Gunners have a game in hand, it’s seems highly unlikely they will put a run together to challenge the Reds. Mikel Arteta’s players haven’t won four Premier League games in a row all season.
Roy Keane believes Arsenal should now be looking over its shoulder at the teams below. Nottingham Forest is just four points behind Arsenal in third, with Chelsea two points further back in fourth. Manchester City is only eight points behind Arsenal in fifth.
“You’ve got to have cutting edge, cutting edge is very important,” Keane told Sky Sports after Sunday’s game. “Forget Liverpool, be more worried about the teams coming up behind you.
“They scored seven in the week (against PSV), but they didn’t have any swagger about it today. United have been dreadful all season, I would be looking at Arsenal’s mentality. You must smell United were here for the taking. They weren’t streetwise. The next step is always the hardest one. If you’re playing for Arsenal what good is second to you?”
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Keane added: “You are not winning any league titles with 10 draws. The manager certainly looks frustrated. He will still want his club to show a greater mentality. They’ve lost that momentum for the season.”
Keane telling continued: “Liverpool will look at it and think, ‘Arsenal have almost given up the title race.'”
Paul Merson believes Fulham’s attack is better than Arsenal’s
Gunners legend Paul Merson was highly critical of Arsenal’s lack of a center-forward, with Arteta refusing to bring in a backup for Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz in January. Both of those players, who are hardly prolific anyway, are currently injured.
Merson told Sky Sports at fulltime: “We had this with Arsene Wenger too. Everyone knew he needed a center-half, but he never got one. It’s the same with Mikel Arteta now. They had a £60 million ($77.5 million) bid rejected for Ollie Watkins rejected in January. Well, then go with £65 million ($83.9 million). It’s just five million. It’s just a cup of tea for Arsenal. Do you think that Arsenal front three get into Fulham’s team? And where are Fulham?”
Merson aded: “I thought (the 7-1 win against PSV) during the midweek was papering over the cracks. You are playing in the top league in the world, you are one of the best teams in that league and you have got no center-forward. Mikel Merino scored twice against Leicester but you are not winning the league with him playing there. He looked lost up front. No team wins anything without a good center-forward.
“Arsenal are suffering at the moment and I think it’s a worry now. They have got to score goals now and it is getting a little tight when you look at the league table. Manchester City have got some nice fixtures coming up and they could catch Arsenal.”
Merson continued: “I will be saying now that Arsenal need to concentrate to get into the Premier League top four. Liverpool are too far away. They have only lost one game all season. (The title race) is over.”
Gary Neville expects an inquest into Arsenal’s transfer business
United legend Neville has also highlighted Arsenal’s failure to sign a No. 9. He told Sky Sports on Sunday: “He (Arteta) was agitated. He was agitated walking over to the Arsenal fans at the end. The biggest inquest will be, ‘Why did we not sign a striker?’ Did he (Arteta) not want one? You can’t kid football fans and they need a top-class striker.”
Neville continued: “For Arsenal, this game epitomises their struggles and shows why they are so far behind leaders Liverpool. Their build-up play and defending is pretty good, but they are missing a lot of quality in the final third.”
