Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta pokes fun at Liverpool Premier League title race controversy

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta pretended to storm out of an interview with Sky Sports following his exit after last weekend's draw with Manchester United.

The Spaniard ended his post-match duties prematurely with the broadcaster after he faced questions over the Gunners' injury record and lack of an out-and-out goalscorer.

The draw at Old Trafford saw Arsenal failed to make up ground on league leaders Liverpool who stretched their lead at the summit to 16 points with their win over Southampton, a day earlier.

However, Arteta was in high spirits a week on after they cruised past Chelsea.

Their London rivals failed to land a glove on Arsenal, who deployed Mikel Merino in the striker position again, as the former Real Sociedad midfielder scored the only goal of the game after 20 minutes in the first-half.

During the post-match interview with Sky, David Craig began his question before Arteta made a dash for the exit. The reporter said: "Just finally you mentioned the international break, Bukayo Saka after the international break, you talk positively about him..."

Arteta quickly returned with a wry smile and said: "I'm in," much to the delight of Craig who laughed, before continuing his question on Saka's return. He asked: "You are still here, that is the important thing, has he got a chance?"

"Yes he has got a very good chance," the Arsenal boss replied.

When asked about Merino, the Gunners manager praised his side's new-found source of goals. "The way he's approaching it is incredible," said Arteta. "He wants to understand everything and to learn from it. He's very critical of himself all the time. The reality is that he's winning matches for us.

"The value of it, it was a big match. In the end we win the game because of that goal. Very happy with his contribution.

"We worked on something similar (from the set-piece), but that. To be fair it was a different kind of finish planned.

"It will generate belief in the team again, in the stadium with the crowd, that we can score. It's something we've been missing when we were so prolific."

The Gunners reduced their deficit to Liverpool to 12 points and could further hack away at the arrears when they return to North London when they host Fulham after the international.

Liverpool's lead could be just nine points before they play rivals Everton with Arsenal due to play 24 hours earlier.

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