Gary Neville has expressed his opinion on Arsenal’s Premier League title chances after their latest defeat at Newcastle United.
The Gunners lost Saturday’s encounter 1-0 at St James’ Park after a controversial second-half goal by Anthony Gordon.
They are now three points behind leaders Manchester City in the league table.
Arsenal’s performance prompted Neville to raise concerns over their title hopes despite backing them for top-flight success at the beginning of the season. He feels Arsenal need to sign a top striker.
He told Sky Sports: “In the games I have watched Arsenal this season, [the] centre-forward [position] has been a problem.
“Arsenal have to do some business in January – they are ending the game with [Leandro] Trossard in attack.
“I’ve said this after a few Arsenal games this season – Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah at centre-forward are both very good, but I’d like them to be my number two and number three strikers.
“I’d really love them to be my number two and number three strikers and they might even end up playing wide and off the left in certain games or off the right because both of them can do that role.
“But if Arsenal had a top number nine and they’ve had some really top number nines in the last 20 or 30 years, then I think they could go on to win the title.
“I’ve predicted them to win the title but when I look at them now in big games, I feel they’re lacking something up top.
“To be fair, I think Mikel Arteta knows that. He loves them both and he should do, Arsenal fans should do.
“This is not a criticism of the two lads they’ve got because I think they can be really important players for Arsenal, but I feel like they should be part of the 20-man squad.
“They could still contribute in 25-30 matches a season, but I feel you need something more in those top matches that just get you over the line.
“Erling Braut Haaland does get Man City over the line quite a bit and I think that’s what the difference could be in the end. So for me, that’s a big thing.’
Manager Mikel Arteta hit out at the video assistant referee’s decision to allow Gordon’s goal in an extraordinary post-match rant.
“I have to be here now to say it is not acceptable,” He told Sky Sports.
“We didn’t deserve to lose the match. We lost the match because of the clear and obvious decisions. It’s embarrassing. A disgrace. That’s what it is – a disgrace.
“You cannot imagine the amount of messages I got saying this cannot continue. I am wasting my time. We are wasting our time. I don’t want to be in the hands of people.”
VAR has come under huge criticism this season. One of their biggest blunders was when they wrongly disallowed Luis Diaz’s goal in Liverpool’s 2-1 loss against Tottenham Hotspur last month.
There have been several more such incidents since then, with managers, players and fans all left frustrated.
The victim of the latest VAR decision was Arsenal, and Arteta couldn’t control himself as he laid into the match officials.
