Arsenal's Premier League title Hope is over and they should be more concerned about securing Champions League qualification than catching Liverpool, according to Sky Sports Pundit Roy Keane.
Declan Rice has canceled the free kick of Bruno Fernandes when the Gunners came from behind to pull 1-1 with Manchester United on Sunday, but the result leaves them 15 points behind the leaders.
Arsenal dominated the possession for long spells at Old Trafford, but had trouble creating opportunities for Rice's clinical first finish in the 74th minute. They were then owed to the goalkeeper hereldics of David Raya to keep them right in the final phase.
Arsenal scored seven in their Champions League break of PSV Eindhoven in Midweek, but only scored once in their last three Premier League matches in the middle of injuries to Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus.
Gabriel Martinelli returned from an injury as a replacement at Old Trafford, but Keane was not impressed by the mentality of Arsenal, because they cannot benefit from the recent struggles of United and won the victory.
“If you are not advanced and you do not score goals, forget to close a hole on Liverpool,” said Keane on Sky Sports. “You should worry more about teams that come up behind you.
“Arsenal scored seven a week, but they didn't have Swagger about them today. At the end you probably think United is going to win, and they have been terrible.
“I would look at their mentality and think,” Where was it? ” You have to smell United for the taking, but Arsenal was not street -wise.
“Arsenal has done well and made progress in recent years, but the next step is the most difficult. If you are Arsenal, what do you have for the proposal?
“I have not seen an Arsenal side that are machine-like, who knew that man utd was there for the taking. I was not happy with their mentality. Forget Liverpool, worry about the teams behind them.
“Liverpool will look at that and not think that they are being put under pressure, they will think that Arsenal has almost given up the title hunt.
“There is of course that striking problem, but I still thought that there would be that mentality to get the job done. If there was something, it would be the opposite.”
Keane added that he doubts the potential of Arsenal to win the Premier League title under Arteta after back-to-back second finishes, especially because he expects Liverpool and Manchester City to be stronger next season.
“Why do you think the manager can do it?” he said. “They have come close in recent years, but City will be strong next year and I am sure that Liverpool will be.
“Where is the evidence to think that they could do it? Get a striker in, do they have the right mentality? Does the manager have? Do you see them in a different direction when they lose every week, but they all get agitated when they lose.
“I don't think getting a striker in whom 20 goals scores per season will necessarily be the difference.
'Will City and Liverpool just stand still? They will try to improve, Pep will jump back and I think Liverpool will be stronger next season. We don't know where Chelsea is, but what is the proof of this group of players that they can do it?
“It's good challenging, but it should be about winning titles.”
Redknapp: Striker -signature Arsenal can get challenging again
Jamie Redknapp did not agree with Keane's claim that signing an Arsenal striker would not turn into title winners, but admitted that they had to bring in the right player who lost the “joy” of their game this season.
“There has been a real focus on set pieces this season and that is not working for them at the moment,” said Redknapp on Sky Sports.
“This season there is no pleasure in the game of Arsenal compared to the latter, the year before and the year before with [Granit] Xhaka in midfield.
“I just don't see it. Even with Bukayo Saka there were games at home where they could not finish teams. They did not finish teams in the same way.”
He added: “I am convinced that if they sign an elite striker that they will challenge for the title. But how difficult are they to find?
'They are always talked about it [Alexander] Isak, he is clearly elite with the goals he has and how he plays. But would Arsenal be the only ones for him if he leaves?
“[Benjamin] Sesko too, they are mentioned with him, but it's just a case of a striker. Although Kai Havertz did well, they signed it as a no. 8.
“Then you ask him to be a murderer in the box – will he get 20 a season? These are Salah figures. That's what they have to try to find, and if they do with their defensive stability, they will definitely go close next season.”
Neville: she has cost a lack of striker
Gary Neville underlined the importance of the club's failure to sign a striker, and said that Arteta and his players have the right to “be disappointed” by the club because they did not act before.
Arsenal used Mikel Merino again as an improvised striker at Old Trafford, but the Spain International, a natural midfielder, could not have an impact.
“I think these players can be abandoned. I think the manager can feel abandoned,” he added to the Gary Neville podcast. “I think they should have been provided with a striker in the past year or so.
“I'm talking about a striker, and Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus. For me they have hopelessly left themselves to attack players. They have had injuries, but you have to plan for that.
“You have to be able to call people and trust your bank and your team and it was clearer in that first half than ever.
“They miss a central point that can do the work for them. Liverpool has better attacking options.”
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