Following Arsenal’s disappointing 1-1 draw with Manchester United at Old Trafford, the Gunners now trail Liverpool by a significant 15 points in the Premier League title race. This result has left Arsenal on course to finish second for the third consecutive season.
Roy Keane expressed his doubts about Mikel Arteta’s ability to lead Arsenal to a league title next season. During a heated discussion on Sky Sports, Keane questioned the evidence supporting Arteta’s potential to achieve this feat. “What makes you think the manager can do it?” Keane asked his fellow pundits. He noted that while Arsenal has come close in recent years, both Manchester City and Liverpool are expected to remain strong competitors next season.
Keane emphasized the need for a top-class striker but also questioned whether signing one would be enough. “Where is the evidence to think they can do it? Getting a striker in would help, have they got the right mentality? Has the manager?” He highlighted that Arsenal’s performance under pressure is a concern, as they become agitated when losing. Keane stressed that merely challenging for the title is insufficient; the focus should be on winning it.
Moreover, Keane criticized Arsenal’s mentality, stating they lacked confidence despite their impressive 7-1 Champions League win over PSV earlier in the week. “I’d be looking at their mentality and thinking, ‘where was it?'” he said. For Keane, finishing second is not enough for a club like Arsenal; the goal should be to win titles.
Jamie Redknapp disagreed with Keane’s assessment, suggesting that if Arsenal were to sign an elite striker, they could challenge for the title. Redknapp emphasized the need for a “killer in the box” who can score around 20 goals per season, comparable to Mohamed Salah’s performance. He believed that with such a striker and maintaining their defensive solidity, Arsenal could be serious contenders next season.
Redknapp acknowledged the difficulty in finding such a striker but mentioned players like Alexander Isak and Benjamin Sesko as potential targets. Despite Arsenal’s recent injury woes, including the absence of Kai Havertz and intermittent absences of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, and Martin Odegaard, Redknapp remained optimistic about their chances if they could secure the right signings.
Arsenal’s recent performances have been marred by injuries, forcing them to use Mikel Merino as a striker. Despite dominating possession against Manchester United, they struggled to create scoring opportunities. The draw highlighted the challenges Arsenal face in closing the gap with Liverpool, leading Keane to suggest that securing a top-four finish might be a more realistic goal for the Gunners.