Wayne Rooney single out the ‘biggest mistake’ Mikel Arteta has made at Arsenal

Photo credit: GETTY IMAGES

Table of Contents

Wayne Rooney reveals the ‘biggest mistake’ Mikel Arteta made while managing Arsenal.

Manchester United legend, Wayne Rooney, has shared his thoughts on what he believes to be the “biggest mistake” made by Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta. According to Rooney, Arteta’s failure to sign a top striker during the summer transfer window has significantly impacted Arsenal’s performance this season.

When asked if signing a striker will be Arsenal’s priority this summer, the former Manchester United and England striker said on Amazon Prime Video: ‘Yeah, you would think so. Not getting a striker in the summer was the biggest mistake I think. Getting players in January is always difficult. It’s difficult to get the right players for the right price.

gettyimages 2203288535 612x612 1 — EINDHOVEN, NETHERLANDS – MARCH 04: Wayne Rooney, former Footballer and TV pundit for Amazon Prime shakes hands with Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal, prior to the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Round of 16 first leg match between PSV and Arsenal FC at PSV Stadion on March 04, 2025 in Eindhoven, Netherlands. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Arsenal has been struggling in the Premier League, currently sitting in second place, 13 points behind leaders Liverpool. Despite their efforts to challenge for the title over the past three seasons, the Gunners have repeatedly fallen short, finishing second twice behind Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City. This season, they are once again facing the prospect of missing out on the Premier League title, as well as being knocked out of the Carabao Cup and FA Cup.

Rooney emphasized the importance of having a reliable striker who can score 20-30 goals a season, which he believes is crucial for winning titles. He pointed out that signing players in January is always difficult, as it is challenging to find the right players for the right price. Alan Shearer, the Premier League record goalscorer, agreed with Rooney and questioned the choice to not sign a striker in January or at the beginning of the season.

Arsenal’s lack of firepower has been evident in recent weeks, with the team losing at home to West Ham and dropping points at Nottingham Forest. However, they managed to secure an impressive 7-1 victory against PSV Eindhoven in the knockout stages of the Champions League, showcasing their potential when everything clicks.