Gary Neville has suggested Mikel Arteta “is sick of being asked” about Arsenal’s lack of a recognised forward.
Arsenal drew 1-1 with Manchester United on Sunday in a game that highlighted their struggles in attack once again. Despite dominating most of the first-half, they failed to score and trailed going into the break following a brilliant Bruno Fernandes free-kick.
Declan Rice would equalise in the second half, but the result means the Gunners are now 15 points behind leaders Liverpool in the Premier League table.
Following the match, Arteta was fulfilling his media obligations. However, he walked out of a post-match interview with Sky Sports as he brushed aside a question from reporter Patrick Davison about the striker situation.
“No. It’s not about that,” was Arteta’s response as he began to walk away. Davison then added: “Mikel, one more [question]? I have to ask you about the title race because it’s 15 points now.”
Arteta replied “no” while walking away. Davison asked: “Is it too much?”, to which the Arsenal boss simply replied “thanks”.
Reacting to the incident in the studio, Neville shared his theory as to why Arteta was so agitated but warned the Gunners manager that he can’t kid supporters.
“Why was he so agitated when Patrick asked him that question about the striker?” Neville mused on Sky Sports. “Normally when you see a manager act like that… he seemed to walk off.
“Usually if you see a manager walk off from an interview when he's been asked a question, you normally think there is something getting to them.
“Is he sick of being asked that question? Does he think that's too simple an answer that he doesn't have a striker?
“The fact of the matter is it will still continue to be asked. The reason is because there are hundreds of thousands of Arsenal fans who for many months and years now have said, 'We need a striker.’
“It's not just us in the studio or Patrick Davison, who was asking the question - it's the Arsenal fans.
“You can't kid football fans, they know the team as well as anybody. They need a top-class striker in that changing room.”
