Mikel Arteta has suggested that injuries and red cards left Arsenal destined for missing out on the Premier League title for a third consecutive season.
If the Gunners lose to Ipswich Town on Sunday and Liverpool beat Leicester, Arne Slot’s men will seize the title.
It follows the north London club having finished runners up in the previous two campaigns.
Their season this time has been blighted by injuries to key players such as Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz, as well as controversial refereeing decisions.
They include Myles Lewis-Skelly’s sending off against Wolves in January, which was later rescinded by the FA upon an appeal, and a red card for Declan Rice for tapping the ball away against Brighton in August.
When asked whether Arsenal could have done more to challenge Liverpool, Arteta said: ‘For sure there would be things that we could have done.
‘If not, you would have won every game regardless of any injuries, any situation, any red card, any referee decision. But it is what it is.
‘We will make an analysis of what we've done well and not that well at the end of the season.
‘But probably the question would be, if you asked me in August, “With all these things that are going to happen to your team, where do you see your team finishing?”
‘Probably that (second place) would be the right answer.’
Hudbmnrt
1
If Arteta keep on playing his tiring players, obviously they will get injured at some point. He must rotate like what Arne Slot did and he minimized injuries to his team in a certain sense. my thoughts is dun give excuses when Arteta is so incompetent in rotating his tired stars
slot has only one 11, never rotates players
Pepbcilnsu
0
it was your tactics Mikel....your TACTICS...and that you don't have a striker.....bahahahahahaha
Mancity have the best striker in the world and where are they now.
lepmoprstz
0
every epl team had its share of injuries. bad decisions from refs, Liverpool included. remember the game against, Tottenham, Everton, etc..? so Arsenal are not yet ripe for epl trophy. just wait for your time..
Are you correct at all do u even have sense…Aside Liverpool Man U no epl team is bigger than Arsenal…you are a fool a big idiot to even talk all this rubbish…Mumu
jasbdeksy
1
it was your tactics Mikel....your TACTICS...and that you don't have a striker.....bahahahahahaha
humadcast
0
As EPL is almost gone, we she try our bench strength now. Give the young players some game time and keep the senior ones fit for CL.
Linbcemort
0
Red Card and poor calls from refs killed us this season. Liverpool is not winning the trophy, they are getting a trophy gift......9+ penalties for Liverpool.....imagine.
you & your coach are just failures looking for excuses....& excuses are nails build a house called "failure"..Liverpool have been struggling too but they've find a way to win their games..about referees decisions even Liverpool have been in that situations not only this season, even the last seasons..Slot have been banned this season due to complaining about bad decisions..MacAlister vs Everton, 1st leg game vs Fulham,Robbo red card..so many things happened but Liverpool didn't dwelling to that..last last season red cards rained almost every game plus wrong decision against us e.g vs Spurs disallowed goal of Diaz & two red cards..But I can assure you with this mentality your coach have,he can't win anything..OK let's say,this! it was injuries & wrong decisions what about last two seasons..😂😂😂
Temdkrsy
0
Arsenal give up on the EPL title when they failed to bring an attacker and a striker in January transer window which consequently followed by Martinelli and Harvertz's Injuries
Zesabclstu
0
way you say at Don, t have up
Kepelmnruy
1
Even champion league, even if you reach final, you won't win, it will go Barcelona or other team..
You need healing from this pain
Vaecimprst
0
Even champion league, even if you reach final, you won't win, it will go Barcelona or other team..
Another clown with a smart phone
Riyabdekpz
0
Even champion league, even if you reach final, you won't win, it will go Barcelona or other team..
we can bet..
Raubdlnosu
0
Even champion league, even if you reach final, you won't win, it will go Barcelona or other team..
I feel your pain
Riyabdekpz
0
Even champion league, even if you reach final, you won't win, it will go Barcelona or other team..
It's you who is daft. tell me when you last won CL trophy? I don't on emotions but on realities. Arsenal have a good team, but luck technique when it comes to cup games. they are yet to mature.
Jaimz22
0
Even champion league, even if you reach final, you won't win, it will go Barcelona or other team..
You’re just daft, to be honest.
Vipelmnstu
0
Even champion league, even if you reach final, you won't win, it will go Barcelona or other team..
you know nothing about soccer stop commenting you're ignorant. Barcelona concedes goals left, right and centre
Riyabdekpz
1
Even champion league, even if you reach final, you won't win, it will go Barcelona or other team..
Riyabdekpz
2
every epl team had its share of injuries. bad decisions from refs, Liverpool included. remember the game against, Tottenham, Everton, etc..? so Arsenal are not yet ripe for epl trophy. just wait for your time..
malablata
1
If Arteta keep on playing his tiring players, obviously they will get injured at some point. He must rotate like what Arne Slot did and he minimized injuries to his team in a certain sense. my thoughts is dun give excuses when Arteta is so incompetent in rotating his tired stars
How was Slot rotating? Who he rotated Salah with?
malablata
2
Red Card and poor calls from refs killed us this season. Liverpool is not winning the trophy, they are getting a trophy gift......9+ penalties for Liverpool.....imagine.
Janelnptu
2
Always finds mistakes in others never himself..
Picacekpu
0
If Arteta keep on playing his tiring players, obviously they will get injured at some point. He must rotate like what Arne Slot did and he minimized injuries to his team in a certain sense. my thoughts is dun give excuses when Arteta is so incompetent in rotating his tired stars
what about the refereeing
TheOddOne
1
If Arteta keep on playing his tiring players, obviously they will get injured at some point. He must rotate like what Arne Slot did and he minimized injuries to his team in a certain sense. my thoughts is dun give excuses when Arteta is so incompetent in rotating his tired stars