Mikel Arteta stormed out of a post-match interview with Sky Sports after Arsenal’s draw with Manchester United on Sunday.
Declan Rice cancelled out Bruno Fernandes’ first-half free-kick with a fine effort in the second half to claim a point at Old Trafford but Arsenal now find themselves 15 points behind league leaders Liverpool as the Premier League title slips further away from their grasp.
Arteta spoke to Patrick Davison after the game but gradually grew more frustrated as it went on and when asked about not signing a striker in January given their injury issues in attack, the Spaniard said, “It’s not about that” and proceeded to walk off camera.
Davison then ensured he was able to asked Arteta one last question about the title race but he was clearly agitated and exited abruptly without much of a response.
Former Manchester United captain and Sky pundit Gary Neville spoke about Arteta’s antics shortly after and felt he was angered by the striker question given it has been a popular conversation topic throughout the season.
Arsenal allowed Eddie Nketiah to leave for Crystal Palace in the summer but did not sign an out and out striker, instead persisting with Kai Havertz through the middle.
They did bring in Raheem Sterling on loan from Chelsea but when Gabriel Jesus suffered an ACL injury and Havertz tore his hamstring while in a training camp in Dubai, Arsenal found themselves in a striker crisis.
Mikel Merino has filled in as an emergency forward and had success at Leicester with a brace but without an elite striker, Arsenal have seriously lacked cutting edge.
As expected, Arteta’s decision to walk out on his post-match interview dominated discussions on social media.
One fan on X said: “Arteta just ran out of his post match interview after being asked about the 15 point gap. Embarrassing.”
Another commented: “Arteta just walked out of interview…WOW he’s furious.”
A third added: “Arteta now storming out of interviews, Arne Slot has ruined his life.”
A fourth wrote: “This Mikel arteta post-match interview. My manager has lost his head.”
