Neville: I’ve very little sympathy for Arsenal
Gary Neville says he has no sympathy for Arsenal after Kai Havertz’s season-ending injury left the Gunners without a recognised striker.
Mikel Merino stepped up at the weekend in Havertz’s absence, scoring twice late on in a 2-0 win at Leicester.
As well as Havertz, Arsenal are still missing Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus, with Raheem Sterling, Ethan Nwaneri and Leandro Trossard the only fit forwards available to Mikel Arteta.
Speaking on The Gary Neville Podcast, Neville thinks it is going to be tough for Arsenal and believes they should have foreseen a situation where they were short in attacking areas.
“They are going to have to come up with something,” Neville said.
“I’ve got very little sympathy for Arsenal. They knew at the start of the season that they were short at centre forward. They knew they might be in a position where they didn’t have the quality up top.
“They have also had two title races so they know what it’s like. This is not an inexperienced team or manager. Could this have been foreseen? Yes. They couldn’t get any business done.
“I thought it might be Declan Rice moving forwards and it’s ended up being Mikel Merino.
“Sometimes good can come out of what seems to be bad. You can develop something together.
“It’s going to be tough for Arsenal. They have to find a way, no excuses. They can’t feel sorry for themselves and I’m sure Mikel Arteta wont.”
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12 hour ago12h ago12:59
‘No excuses!’ | Neville has ‘very little sympathy’ for Arsenal’s lack of striker
Gary Neville says he has ‘very little sympathy’ for Arsenal’s lack of striker as they attempt to chase Liverpool for the Premier League title.
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20 hour ago20h ago04:56
Havertz has surgery on torn hamstring
Kai Havertz has confirmed he has undergone ‘successful’ surgery after suffering a torn hamstring during Arsenal’s mid-season training camp in Dubai.
Havertz, who had scored 15 goals for the season when misfortune struck, will now embark upon a period of rehabilitation which is expected to extend into Arsenal’s preparations for next season.
With Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli also currently injured, Gunners boss Mikel Arteta has seen his attacking options severely limited.
However, midfielder Mikel Merino provided an unlikely solution on Saturday when he came off the bench to score both goals in a 2-0 Premier League win at Leicester.
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15 Feb15 Feb09:30
FREE MATCH HIGHLIGHTS: LEICESTER CITY 0-2 ARSENAL
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15 Feb15 Feb08:39
Arteta sends title race warning to Liverpool
Mikel Arteta has warned Liverpool that Arsenal are “not going to stop” fighting for the Premier League title after securing a late win against Leicester City, four days after Arne Slot’s side dropped points to Everton.
Arsenal: Mikel Arteta fires Liverpool Premier League title race warning after Mikel Merino double closes gap to four points
Sky Sports
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15 Feb15 Feb08:03
Arteta’s message to Liverpool
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta to TNT Sports:
“It’s a decent week. Let’s see what happens. We can only do what’s in our control. But you come to any ground and it’s a nightmare. It’s difficult, you have to be at your best to win. It’s going to be a long run.
What message do you have for Liverpool? “That we really want it. Regardless of what happens or the difficulties we’re going to face, that we’re going to give this a real go. The team wants it, we’ve had seven or eight months working on that. We’re not going to stop, let’s see how far we can go!”
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15 Feb15 Feb08:03
Arteta on Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta to TNT Sports:
“Unbelievable. The two of them were involved in the biggest moments of the game. One when [Lewis-Skelly] touches that ball and if not, it’s a goal on the counter attack.
“Then Ethan, every tme he was on the ball he looked a threat. One on the crossbar, one off the post, and then a beautiful cross after that.
“When you see their behaviours and how they’re behaving on the pitch, let them go. Sometimes you want to protect them but sometimes take the handbrake off and let them go to that pace. Why should we stop them? Because they’re 17?”
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15 Feb15 Feb08:02
Arteta on super sub Merino
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta to TNT Sports:
“Big win, today was a day with all the questions about being raised with injuries to make a statement. That we are here, we really want it.
“The first half, we lacked urgency and weren’t consistent on many things, especially with the ball. The second half we picked it up about managed to win the game.
What did he say to Merino? “That he was going to score. He’s a real goal threat. The moment they started moving deeper and we were more set in the final third, we thought he could deliver those moments. But it’s easier to say it than get it done!
“Because of the height? They are very different. Mikel has never played as a nine. But he has that timing, that smell that he can smell danger, anticipate danger. And then he can execute it.
“It was a lot of debate. I didn’t want to drive him crazy. I said to him this morning that he might play there, we believe he could sit there if the game needed the context. He won the game for us.”
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15 Feb15 Feb06:37
Merino: I’ve never played as a striker before!
Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino said he has never played as a striker before after coming off the bench to put two past Leicester.
The Spanish midfielder came off the bench to score twice in the final ten minutes, to move the Gunners four points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool.
“Arteta told me I was going to come in as a striker,” said Merino to TNT Sports. “We were talking this morning about it with one of the assistants and honestly it was a surprise.
“It’s the first time in my career I’ve played in that position. But he told me to go as a striker, make sure I go with my strengths. Luckily, I could help the team with two goals.
Asked if he is now a centre forward, Merino replied:”I don’t know. I don’t think so to be honest! I’ve only scored two braces in my career, this is the first time I’ve done it coming off the bench as a striker. It’s a good time to score as I didn’t spent Valentine’s Day with my wife, this goes to her!”
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15 Feb15 Feb03:29
Trossard given the nod up front
Sky Sports’ Patrick Rowe:
“So there we have it. Leandro Trossard is the man tasked with leading the Arsenal line with no recognised strikers currently available for Mikel Arteta to choose from.
“Although not his preferred position, Trossard has operated in the role for Arsenal in the past, as shown in the graphic below.
“He’s scored five goals in 36 appearances across all competitions this season and Arsenal will need that tally to ramp up fairly quickly now, if they want to stay in the title race.”
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14 Feb14 Feb14:30
Arteta: Saliba has offered to play up front!
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has revealed William Saliba offered a novel solution to their striker injury crisis after Kai Havertz’s season-ending hamstring tear by volunteering to play up front.
The centre-back played as a striker when he was young and put himself forward to fill the void after Havertz joined Gabriel Jesus on the sidelines.
Speaking at his press conference on Friday, Arteta said: “Willy is always saying, ‘I played as a striker!’
“He is so funny. Straight away it was one of his reactions.
“It’s true that he used to score a lot of goals. But a lot of players played in that position when they were young.”
Riccardo Calafiori also played as a striker in his youth, while midfielder Mikel Merino has been mooted as another possible alternative in the position.
“All the options are on the table,” added Arteta. “We are going to have to be creative.”
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14 Feb14 Feb14:30
Arteta: Sagoe Jr, Butler-Oyedeji and Kabia will get chances
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta says academy forwards Charles Sagoe Jr, Nathan Butler-Oyedeji and Ismeal Kabia will get opportunities amid the side’s injury crisis.
The Gunners boss is set to be without Kai Havertz for the rest of the season due to injury, as well as Gabriel Jesus, while Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka are not expected to return until next month.
The injuries leave Leandro Trossard, Raheem Sterling and Ethan Nwaneri as Arsenal’s only available attacking options and Arteta admits academy forwards on the fringes of the first-team may also be called upon.
Sagoe Jr, who started last season’s Carabao Cup win over Brentford, is training with the first-team having returned from a loan spell at Shrewsbury Town, as are Butler Oyedeji, who appeared from the bench in the recent Champions League win over Dinamo Zagreb, and Kabia, the youngest of the trio at 19.
“He is training with us so any player in that position, the same with Kabi and Nath – they have been very involved with us – will have opportunities,” said Arteta when asked about Sagoe Jr.
The Gunners boss will not, however, be able to call on the 15-year-old Max Dowman, who travelled with the squad for their training camp in Dubai but is too young to play in the Premier League according to the competition’s rules.
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14 Feb14 Feb11:23
Title race back on? Carra, Nev share thoughts ahead of Friday Night Football
Ahead of Chelsea’s trip to Brighton for Friday Night Football, Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville review some of the Premier League’s biggest talking points.
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14 Feb14 Feb04:56
Analysis: ‘Arteta convinced Arsenal have the heart on Valentine’s Day’
Sky Sports News’ Gary Cotterill at Mikel Arteta’s press conference:
“A Valentine’s Day poem ahead of the early kick-off on Saturday:
Arsenal are Red
Leicester are Blue
The table is tighter
After Everton drew.
“There was a lot of love from Mikel Arteta for his old club on February 14th. Wednesday’s Merseyside Derby helped ease the heartbreak of another striker injury.
“It’s not only Kai Havertz who broke down this week though. Mikel Arteta’s WiFi did as well. Just at the crucial moment.
“Arteta was asked where he was and how he reacted when James Tarkowski scored that late equaliser to take two points off Liverpool.
“He said: ‘It was a funny one because I lost connection in that moment. I was watching on the iPad and I lost the connection, we didn’t know exactly what was going on.’
“And no one quite knows ‘what’s going on’ up top for Arsenal. The Havertz hamstring means they are now four strikers down, including their top Premier League goal scorer.
“Arteta explained how Havertz was injured while defending a set piece in training.
“Then, in another moment apt for Valentine’s Day, explained that he ‘loves’ the challenge of rearranging his forward pack to cope.
“He says anything is possible. A chance for Raheem Sterling, Ethan Nwaneri, Leandro Trossard to shine.
“He sees Nwaneri moving from the right to the middle at some point – Thierry Henry style – but not yet. Trossard has played there and done well he says. He even didn’t rule out (or in) Mikel Merino playing a false nine role.
“He called his lack of options up front an ‘accident waiting to happen’ because of the intensity of games and the number of games. A modern football problem for the big teams.
“It’s perhaps no coincidence that Havertz, Saka and Gabriel Martinelli – also out with a hamstring injury – were among the busiest Arsenal players this season, in terms of minutes played and metres covered.
“As for Saka, he won’t be rushed back to help fill the void. But, contrary to reports, there’s no setback in his recovery. The target is still late March to mid-April. Perhaps after the international break.
“In the meantime, could Arteta be forced to grab his boots? The photo on the cover of Everton’s match programme on Wednesday night showed Arteta jumping for joy after scoring in the Merseyside derby in October 2010. It was some leap.
“I asked if he could be Havertz’ replacement? ‘Then we would be in big trouble,’ he laughed.
“He genuinely thinks Arsenal can cope without bringing him back or dipping into the out-of-contract-market.
“And, even with the benefit of hindsight, he doesn’t regret not taking a risk in the January window.
“The club did its homework. The club did its best, he says. Again and again.
“Last season, after their warm weather break in Dubai, Arsenal took 31 of the next 33 points available.
“Also, at this stage last season – after 24 games – they were two points behind Liverpool. They finished seven points above them.
“Can such a turnaround be achieved this time? Arteta isn’t ruling it out.
“Arsenal may not have the strikers. But, more than ever on Valentine’s Day, Arteta is convinced they have the heart.”
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14 Feb14 Feb03:47
Nwaneri? Trossard? Arteta addresses Arsenal attack and Saka injury
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14 Feb14 Feb03:47
Is there any temptation to bring Saka back early?
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was asked about Bukayo Saka’s return with the Gunners struggling for options in forward areas.
Saka has not featured for the Gunners since tearing his hamstring in their 5-1 win over Crystal Palace in December and there had been reports of a setback for the England international as he continues his rehabilitation.
However, Arteta denied those reports and the club hope Saka, who joined the Arsenal squad for their warm-weather training camp in Dubai, will be able to return to action in March.
“In a 10-day injury, three days is a lot because it’s 30 per cent. In three months, a week is probably not that much, but it’s too early.
“He’s in early stages of rehab. When we get a little bit closer and he starts to do more demanding stuff and more load, we will see where he is.”
Asked if Saka had suffered a setback, as per a newspaper report, Arteta added: “No, it’s fine.”
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14 Feb14 Feb02:58
Arsenal need Odegaard to step up
The Radar column this week includes a look at the waning goal threat of Martin Odegaard. Why Arsenal need their captain, scorer of 14 open-play goals in 2022/23, to step up now more than ever. Read below.
Mohamed Salah: Liverpool star’s goals and assists put him on track for greatest Premier League season – The Radar
Sky Sports
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14 Feb14 Feb02:33
Arteta: Some injuries are accidents waiting to happen
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta:
“You cannot prove it, so the evidence we can provide is very limited in many aspects and every case is very different.
“Some of them we know are based on load and minutes, it’s inevitable.
“We have players that have been injured that have played 130 games in the last two seasons.
“At the end, it’s an accident waiting to happen if you continue to load and load and load.
“Is it this season? Is it the accumulation of that? Is it the stress of that? Is it luck, preparation, methodology?
“There are a lot of factors and it’s very difficult to point out one thing, but the schedule that is planned is super demanding and, for certain players, especially explosive players, it becomes a real issue.”
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14 Feb14 Feb02:28
Arteta: White is back in the Arsenal squad
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta:
“Yes. Ben has been training more regularly now, so we still have to manage his load a lot, but he’s going to be available.”
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14 Feb14 Feb02:28
Arteta: Critical period in title race coming up
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta:
“When the gap becomes a little bit shorter than you expected, it’s always really positive – and you need that.
“At the end, it’s about generating momentum and the next few weeks are going to be critical as well, to understand, after the international break, where we are with six or seven weeks to go in the season.”
