Gary Neville REVEALS why Arsenal’s title challenge flopped yet again

Gary Neville blamed Arsenal's obsession with set pieces and its transfer strategy as a reason for the club falling out of the EPL title race.

Gary Neville REVEALS why Arsenal’s title challenge flopped yet again

Gary Neville claimed that Arsenal's obsession with set pieces has put them out of the title race this season. (via Daily Mail)

Sky Sports football pundit Gary Neville insisted that Arsenal’s ambitions of winning the Premier League title are almost over this season. His claims came after the Gunners suffered their first home defeat this season against West Ham United. 

The Gunners suffered two fatal blows in the race to the EPL title over the weekend. The club shockingly lost 1-0 to city rivals West Ham before Liverpool secured a comfortable 2-0 victory over Manchester City. This allowed the Reds to extend their lead on top of the EPL table to 11 points, much ahead of their rivals. Arsenal, who have a game in hand, remain second, with 53 points from 26 matches. 

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Arsenal’s title challenge has been severely impacted by a massive injury crisis. Four of the club’s primary forwards have been ruled out for a substantial period of time, including Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli. Against West Ham, Mikel Arteta‘s strategy of playing Mikel Merino up front failed to materialize as the club only registered two shots on target throughout the match.

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Gary Neville blamed Arsenal’s obsession with ‘set-pieces’ as well as their inability to score from open play a reason for their recent downfall. The Gunners have scored 20 set-piece goals this term, under coach Nico Jover, who has also come under fire. Moreover, he criticized Arteta’s transfer strategy, which has not helped in tackling the injury crisis and keeping pace with Liverpool.

Arsenal have become quite rigid, they’ve become quite turgid at times to watch. This obsession with set pieces, exacerbated by the presence of the set-piece coach on the touchline puts more focus on set-pieces.

Gary Neville on Arsenal (H/T GOAL)

Not just Neville, but fellow Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp also ripped into the Arsenal side this season, claiming that they are no longer good to watch. Nonetheless, the Gunners will be hoping to bounce back when they next face Nottingham Forest.

Gary Lineker names the striker Arsenal should target next summer

Arsenal has been linked with a number of strikers heading into the 2025 summer transfer window. However, ex-Tottenham forward-turned-football pundit Gary Lineker picked Victor Osimhen as the one who could solve Arsenal’s persistent attacking crisis.

Gary Linekar Arsenal sign Victor Osimhen
Gary Linekar suggested Arsenal to sign Victor Osimhen next summer. (via Transfermarkt)

The Gunners will be without a proper number nine for the rest of the season following Gabriel Jesus’ and Kai Havertz’s season-ending injury. Lineker named Osimhen as the striker Arsenal should target in the next summer, owing to the Nigerian’s impressive goal-scoring ability. The 26-year-old forward currently plays for Galatasaray on loan from Napoli and has scored 19 goals this term.

Victor Osimhen is there isn’t he… He without a doubt would score goals for them. The problem they’ve got now is the whole world knows they need a forward.

Gary Lineker on Arsenal striker target next summer (H/T Metro)

Apart from the ex-Lille center-forward, Lineker also suggested that Arsenal could bring in Liam Delap from Ipswich Town. The young English forward has scored ten goals for the struggling Premier League side and carries a lot of potential.