In the wake of the 3-0 defeat to Manchester City, frustrated Gunners boss Mikel Arteta says that the club can ill afford to stand still in the transfer market as he extemporized on the failings of recent seasons.<\/p>\n
Arteta has issued a warning to the Arsenal board that the club is at the risk of lagging even further behind their rivals if they were to continue their passivity in the transfer market.<\/p>\n
The Gunners returned with joy and eager anticipation to Premier League action at their manager’s former home ground at the Etihad on Wednesday only to have their fires doused as they succumbed to a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Manchester City, even though they had put up a gallant fight in the first half.<\/p>\n
Raheem Sterling gifted the hosts with the advantage just before half-time, followed up with Kevin De Bruyne’s subsequent penalty – after David Luiz was sent off for hauling back Riyad Mahrez early in the second half – and Phil Foden’s late strike, which altogether added up to a miserable evening for the Gunners.<\/p>\n
The defeat leaves Arteta\u2019s team down in ninth place in the table, eight points outside of the top four, and Arteta told Sky Sports\u00a0that the Gunners are at risk of being left behind as he outspokenly identified some of their flaws.<\/p>\n
“Well let’s see, we’re trying to put a plan together to improve what we have,” said the Spaniard when asked if Arsenal could make a signing to match Chelsea’s move for Timo Werner, which was finalized on Thursday.<\/p>\n
“We haven’t been able to do or achieve the results we wanted in the last three years.<\/p>\n
“There’s a reason behind it and if we stand still obviously that gap will get bigger and bigger. I haven’t come here to accept or to do that.<\/p>\n
“The challenge for all of us is first of all to improve the players that we have and find the ways to improve the squad in the right positions in order to give us the best possible chance and tools that we need to compete at that level which is getting higher and higher every year.”<\/p>\n
The Gunners are up for action again on Saturday when they go to meet relegation-threatened Brighton.<\/p>\n
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