In a heated response, Manchester United icon Gary Pallister has taken aim at Mikel Arteta for his abrupt exit from a post-match interview following Arsenal's 1-1 stalemate with the Red Devils on Sunday. The Gunners are enjoying a respectable season in the Premier League, yet it appears theyโre on track to finish as also-rans once more. After Liverpool extended their lead at the top of the table to a whopping 15 points over second-placed Arsenal, following their victory against Southampton, the pressure is mounting.
Itโs a near-universal sentiment among fans and pundits alike that Arsenal fell short in acquiring a new striker last summer and again in January, which could have made all the difference in tight matches. An attempt to secure Ollie Watkins from Aston Villa in the winter window ended in failure, leading to increased scrutiny on Arteta and his transfer strategy.
After the match against Manchester United, Arteta attempted to make a hasty retreat from his interview with Sky Sports reporter Patrick Davison when questioned about his teamโs challenges in the title race. As he tried to depart, Davison pressed, asking, โMikel, one more. I have to ask you about the title race because itโs 15 points now; is it too much?โ To which Arteta could only reply, โAlright, thank you,โ before storming off.
Pallister weighed in on the matter, critiquing Artetaโs petulance during the interaction and suggesting the Arsenal manager is growing weary of the repetitive queries regarding his squad's attacking prowess. He shared with Spaceport Sweden, โIt was a bit petulant. I get that heโs fed up with being questioned about Arsenalโs offensive options, but itโs still a legitimate concern.โ He even posited that Ivan Toney, prior to his move to Saudi Arabia, could have been a fitting addition for the Gunners.
Pallister believes that the pressure is mounting on Arteta, asserting that "itโs everyone against Arteta at the moment," concerning the pressing need for a new centre-forward. He added, โLeaving interviews early doesnโt send the right message.โ
On the pitch, Bruno Fernandes netted a stunning free-kick to open the scoring, before Declan Rice equalised for Arsenal. Pallister suggested that Gunners goalkeeper David Raya could have done better to safeguard the goal against Fernandesโ effort, saying, โRaya showed Bruno far too much of the net. Iโd reckon heโll be examining his positioning closely after this one.โ Despite the critique, Pallister acknowledged the skill of Fernandes, declaring it a โbrilliant effort.โ
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