Alan Shearer makes worrying Mikel Arteta exit claim after Arsenal's 'huge error'
Arsenal are set to miss out on another Premier League title and Mikel Arteta could soon find himself under pressure with his side set to finish runners-up for third season in succession
by Scott Trotter · The MirrorAlan Shearer believes that Mikel Arteta could find himself under pressure - with the Gunners seemingly out of the Premier League title race.
The north London side slipped up against West Ham when they would have hoped to close the gap to Liverpool, before conceding ground again with a draw against Nottingham Forest. The Reds have opened a 13-point buffer at the top of the table and Arsenal are set to finish as runners-up for a third successive season.
The Gunners failed to land a new striker in January despite Arteta's public statements of hope. Arsenal are now struggling in front of goal with injuries to Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz.
But, the north London side have seen significant spending in Arteta's time with the club. That could see increased scrutiny on the Spaniard as Arsenal draw close again without realising any success, but his transfer efforts could be hampered in the summer.
"Is Mikel Arteta under a bit of pressure now? Name me a Premier League manager not under pressure!" Shearer told Betfair. "But you have to say so with what Arsenal have spent and how close they have gone in title races.
"There's no doubt that he's a very talented manager and I don't think that he's under any pressure between now and the end of the season. But I would guess that between now and the beginning of next season that they'll have to bring players in.
"How many additions required is the question, but one thing is for certain that they have to bring a centre-forward in of world class quality and there's not many of those around. Whoever they go for, they're going to get fleeced, because everyone knows they're desperate for a striker."
Arsenal's lack of action in January, and before, may have cost them, Shearer reckons. "About a month ago, maybe three weeks ago there was a glimmer of hope for Arsenal, that if they went on a winning run then it might put a little bit of pressure on Liverpool, but they just couldn't do it," he said.
"I know they've got injuries, but I go back to the first week of the season, where I said that if Arsenal bought a striker then I'd fancy them to win the league and if not then I didn't think they'd do it. Ultimately, injuries and a lack of striker has cost Arsenal, and that's the reason why when push came to shove, they haven't had enough. Only one shot on target against Nottingham Forest, from a set-piece, has shone a light on that.
"Either they couldn't get a striker in, or Mikel Arteta didn't want one, but whatever way around it's clear to see that Arsenal have made a huge error in that position."
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