Gary Neville insisted that he had no sympathy for Mikel Arteta and Arsenal in the midst of their current injury crisis in attack.
Kai Havertz joined Arsenal's long list of absent last week, with the attacker excluded the rest of the season after an operation to restore the hamstring injury he had sustained during the training camp in Dubai.
The injury means that the gunners are now without a recognized striker for the rest of the term, where Gabriel Jesus tears his front cruciate ligament (ACL) last month.
Arsenal is also without Ster Forwards Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, where Arteta chooses to use Raheem Sterling, Leandro Trossard and Ethan Nwaneri in their late 2-0 win over Leicester City on Saturday.
Indeed, their victory against the Foxes saw Arsenal start a Premier League match without Saka, Martinelli, Jesus or Havertz for the first time since their last match of the 2020-21 season against Brighton.
But Arteta needed an inspired cameo display from Mikel Merino, who took both goals at the King Power Stadium after he was pushed into the improvised pointed role.
Arsenal was connected to a number of attackers during the January transfer window, where the club saw an offer rejected for Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins.
There was also interest in Alexander Isak, Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Evan Ferguson, but none of those movements came out, with Neville believing that the decision not to sign any attacker could come back to chase them.
“They will have to think of something,” said Neville. “I have little sympathy for Arsenal. They knew at the start of the season that they were short in the Center Forward.
“They knew that they might be in a position where they didn't have the quality at the top. They also had two title races, so they know what it's like.
“This is not an inexperienced team or manager. Could this have been foreseen? Yes. They couldn't do business.
“I thought it might be rice, and it is ultimately Mikel Merino. Sometimes you can get out of what seems bad. You can develop something together.
“It will be difficult for Arsenal. They have to find a way, no apologies. They cannot feel sorry for themselves, and I am sure that Mikel Arteta will not do that.”
Despite their injuries, Neville also said that Arsenal would have received hope in their search for the title, despite the fact that Liverpool Wolves defeated 2-0 on Sunday to extend their lead at the top to seven points.
Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah were on the goal in front of Arne Slot in the first half, before the sensational strike of Cunha reduced the deficiency in the 67th minute, with the Reds passing an Nervy last half hour at Anfield.
Indeed, it was the first time on record (since 2003-04) that Liverpool was unable to try a shot in the second half of a Premier League match in Anfield. In fact, it was the first time in this period that the Reds went a whole half of football without trying a shot in a home competition.
“I think it was a good day for Liverpool,” Neville told Sky Sports. “I even think it was half a good day for Arsenal with Liverpool, who just crossed the line against a Wolves team that I thought was fantastic, with Aston Villa and man gone away.
“Sometimes you get such a game when you go for a title at home when people think you're going to pop up and win easily. You're up 2-0, and you think you'll continue and three or score three or four, but it turns out to be a difficult afternoon.
“We all had this kind of games and that is why it was a good result for Liverpool. But that is why Arsenal will look at it and think that it was a tight game and a slender victory, which will give them hope.”
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