Mikel Arteta exits post-match interview after being asked about Arsenal’s failure to sign a striker

Photo credit: GETTY IMAGES

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Arsenal’s attack was ineffective as they dropped points for the third time in a row. Mikel Arteta seemed frustrated after the game and quickly exited the interview after being asked series of questions.

Mikel Arteta’s frustration reached a breaking point during a post-match interview with Sky Sports following Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Manchester United on Sunday. The result saw Arsenal slip further behind in the Premier League title race, trailing leaders Liverpool by 15 points with just ten games left. However, it was a question about the club’s failure to sign a striker in January that prompted the Arsenal manager to abruptly exit the conversation, leaving viewers and fans stunned.

The match saw Declan Rice equalize after Bruno Fernandes’ free-kick, but Arsenal’s lack of clinical finishing remains a recurring issue. Injuries to Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus have left the team short on firepower, making the inability to reinforce in January a major concern.

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Speaking to Sky Sports reporter Patrick Davison after the match, Arteta initially addressed his team’s display with a measured tone, acknowledging their failure to convert chances. However, the mood shifted when Davison turned to Arsenal’s transfer activity. “Should you have signed a striker in January to bolster your attacking options?” he asked. Arteta’s response was curt: “No, no. It’s not about that,” he snapped, turning to walk away. Undeterred, Davison pressed further, asking about the 15-point gap to Liverpool. Arteta, visibly irritated, muttered “no” and stormed off, cutting the interview short.

Arsenal’s attacking woes have been exacerbated by injuries, and the January transfer window offered a chance to address this, yet the club emerged empty-handed. Reports suggest Arsenal pursued Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins but were rebuffed, while other targets like Bayern Munich’s Mathys Tel and Rosenborg’s Sverre Nypan also failed to materialize.

Arteta has previously hinted at his frustration over the situation. Earlier this season, he told reporters the club was “actively” seeking reinforcements but stressed the need to remain “disciplined” in the market. “We were disappointed not to get someone in January,” he admitted in a pre-Newcastle United press conference, “but we have to work with what we have.” That discipline, however, has left Arsenal exposed, and Sunday’s tense exchange suggests the issue remains a raw nerve for the 41-year-old manager.

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