Is Mikel Arteta DEAD? Because Arsenal's title challenge is

It is incredible to think just how close Arsenal were to Liverpool in the Premier League title race after their win against Leicester on February 15.

A patched-up Arsenal side got over the line at the King Power Stadium thanks to two goals from emergency centre-forward Mikel Merino.

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That left Mikel Arteta’s team lying only four points off Liverpool’s lead at the top of the table - albeit having played a game more. The gap today stands at 15 points after a stunning swing in the title race momentum.

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Arsenal have now played a game fewer than Arne Slot’s men but it’s going to take a monumental collapse for the Reds to lose the title from here. Since the February win against Leicester, Arsenal haven’t won a single Premier League game.

They’ve drawn two away - including at Nottingham Forest and Manchester United - and lost at home to West Ham. Meanwhile, Liverpool have stretched their lead to near unassailable proportions.

After that defeat to the Hammers, Arteta said he’d been giving up the title race “over my dead body”. The capitulation in his team’s form following such a bolshy statement has been humiliating.

Arteta mentality questioned

That was capped off with Arteta’s stunning head loss following the Man Utd draw.

Asked whether his side were now out of the title race - and faced with questions about failing to sign a striker in January - he stormed out of his post-match interview with Sky Sports’ Patrick Davison.

He simply had no answer as to why his team had disappeared yet again down a crucial stretch.

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It’s likely to be FIVE seasons without a major trophy for Arteta come the end of this term. A solitary FA Cup success back in 2020 is all he’s got to show for his Arsenal reign and nearly £700 MILLION spent on new players.

Contrast that with Arne Slot - and his serene progress with a squad already in place - and you can see that Arteta has neither the management skills nor the winning mentality to put Arsenal back on top.

"I'd be looking at their mentality and thinking, 'where was it?', Roy Keane asked on Sky Sports on Sunday.

“If you're Arsenal, what good is second to you? You want to be winning titles.

“I wasn't happy with their mindset. Forget about Liverpool, worry about the teams behind them.”

No set-piece, no party

Arsenal might well be counting the cost of several injuries this term and their one-not approach has been exposed. Since Bukayo Saka went out injured in December, set-piece goals have completely dried up.

Arteta has been criticised for his team’s inability to break down opponents - not least against Man Utd on Sunday - but corner kicks have usually bailed his team out.

He can’t even rely on those anymore as Saka’s deliveries have been missed and opposition staff have worked out their routines. They haven’t scored from a set-piece in the Premier League for their last seven games - and 11 matches overall.

And without Saka’s weapons, Arteta has been found wanting.

"What makes you think the manager can do it? They've got close over the last few years, but City will be strong next year and I'm sure Liverpool will be too,” was Keane’s analysis.

And he’s right. Arteta isn’t up to it and his reign is being shown up as an expensive damp squib.

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