Arsenal have been warned to look at the teams behind them in the race for top four, with the title seemingly out of reach for the Gunners this season.
Mikel Arteta’s side dominated Sunday’s Premier League meeting with Manchester United but could only earn a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford as they fell 15 points behind Liverpool in the title race.
After the match, Sky Sports pundits declared that the title race was effectively over, with Paul Merson saying that the Gunners should be concerned about the teams behind them in the table.
“Fifth are nearer to Arsenal than Arsenal are to first. I’d be saying they have to concentrate and make sure they get in the top four!” said Merson. “They are so far away. Liverpool would need to lose half their football matches and they have lost one all season. It is not going to happen. It is over.”
Speaking on Arsenal’s attacking woes, Merson explained that “it is a worry now until the end of the season”.
“I look at the games and they need to score goals but there are no goals in them. Man City have some nice fixtures coming up, they are in fifth at the moment and could catch Arsenal.”
Roy Keane was critical of the Gunners’ “lack of swagger” and mindset, during the game, saying that they should “forget about Liverpool, [and] worry about the teams behind them”.
“The players speak after the game and say they didn’t have any cutting edge, you’ve got to have it. It’s very important. If you’ve not got that, then forget about closing any gap on Liverpool, you should be more worried about the teams coming up behind you,” added Keane.
Merson, who played for Arsenal between 1985 and 1997, added that he doesn’t think Arsenal’s performance level has “been as great this season”.
“They have no cutting edge. They’ve fallen off a bit in my opinion,” said Merson. “Trossard was bought as an understudy to Saka and Martinelli. Does that front three get in Fulham’s team? No. Where are Fulham?” added the 56-year-old.
The Gunners’ next match is the second leg of their Champions League last-16 tie against PSV, where they lead 7-1 on aggregate. They are in line to face either Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid in the quarter-finals.
In the Premier League, they face Chelsea next on Sunday 16 March at the Emirates.
