Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta stormed out of his post-match interview when asked about the Premier League title race following his side's 1-1 draw with Manchester United.
The Spaniard witnessed his side drop another two points at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon, where Declan Rice came up with a second-half leveller after Bruno Fernandes's free kick broke the deadlock.
Having now failed to win any of their last three matches in the top flight, the striker-starved Gunners are a whopping 15 points behind Liverpool at the top of the table, albeit still with a game in hand on the Reds.
However, Arsenal realistically need Liverpool to lose four of their final nine matches while they stay perfect in order to claw back the deficit, a fanciful scenario given their lack of options up front.
A couple of weeks ago, Arteta affirmed that he would give up the Premier League title over his "dead body", but the Arsenal boss did not take kindly to being asked about the situation at the top after Sunday's game.
Arteta dashes out of interview after Premier League title question
Mikel Arteta hurried out of his post-match interview when asked if the 16-point gap to Liverpool was "too much". pic.twitter.com/Kqx80rIhNf
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) March 9, 2025
Asked by Sky Sports News whether Arsenal's failure to sign a striker has contributed to their drop-off, Arteta replied: "No, it's not about that" before attempting to leave the interview.
Arteta was pressed for one more question by reporter Patrick Davison, who asked the Arsenal boss about the 15-point gap, but the journalist could not even finish his question before Arteta dashed out.
The former Gunners midfielder appeared to say "no, thank you" before quickly leaving the set, although he refused to declare the title race a foregone conclusion when asked in his post-game press conference.
"I don't want to say that," Arteta replied. "Today the frustration is that we haven't won our game. We are obligated to win every game if you want to do that. I don't think it's the right moment to talk about that."
Arsenal now turn their attention towards Wednesday's Champions League last-16 second leg with PSV Eindhoven, whom they boast a surely insurmountable 7-1 advantage against from the first leg in the Netherlands.
The title race was already over for Arsenal
© Iconsport
Arteta may never publicly declare the Premier League title race over until it is mathematically over, but the Gunners boss will surely admit privately that the crown is heading to Anfield.
It is not simply a case of Arsenal being toothless up front and failing to make up ground on Liverpool, but also the Reds just not losing; they have still suffered just the one top-flight loss all season long.
Yes, Arsenal may have been more unfortunate than Arne Slot's men in terms of injuries to key players, but Liverpool have not rested on their laurels, and the Gunners have not helped themselves with their league-high five red cards this season.
Unless Liverpool suddenly lose all of Mohamed Salah, Ryan Gravenberch, Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker to season-ending injuries, Slot's men will canter towards the title, and Arsenal should be fearing for their top-four place for as long as their offensive problems bedevil them.
Ben Knapton
