Gary Neville insists Arsenal have a golden opportunity to win the Premier League for the first time in 19 years – but the club must back Mikel Arteta this month if they are to do so.
The Gunners were held to a goalless draw by Champions League-chasing Newcastle on Tuesday night, with Arteta making just one substitution – bringing on Takehiro Tomiyasu for Ben White – in a game in which his side only four shots on goal.
With no marquee names to call from the bench, Neville claimed the league leaders had ‘run out of ideas’ and that Arteta lacked the real firepower in his replacements to change the game at the Emirates.
Gary Neville has urged Arsenal to back Mikel Arteta this month if they want to win the league
Neville believes two more Arsenal signings could be the difference in City’s title race
A win on Tuesday would see Arsenal move 10 points clear of Manchester City, with a game in hand, and could be in danger of slipping up in the coming months if the team does not strengthen – as they are without a key man Gabriel Jesus and Emile Smith Rowe.
And Neville believes two more reinforcements in the January transfer window could be the crucial difference between Arsenal winning – and losing – the Premier League title race.
‘The interesting thing is [Fabio] Vieira – I think he’s worth £34million,’ Neville told Sky Sports. ‘Mikel Arteta clearly feels that if he brings him on, he will weaken the team tonight as they try to win the game. So he doesn’t trust his bench to improve the team that is there.
Their draw at Newcastle saw them miss the chance to go 10 points clear at the top
‘They rely on the perfect pass, the thread. They don’t have full-backs who deliver superb crosses, they don’t have midfield players who change play or put on a De Bruyne-style game.
‘They relied on short combinations, which Newcastle defended very well and were very compact and made them suffer. They have no other plans off the bench.
‘What they did tonight will work well against 10 to 15 teams in the league. They didn’t do anything wrong tonight. Arsenal ran out of ideas in this game, but I think there should be more that Arteta should be called to the bench and they should go into the transfer market.
‘They are in a position where they can win the league here, so when will they be in this position again? Can the board and owners find those two players to turn three points from one?
Neville said Arteta did not want to bring on Fabio Vieira (left) against Newcastle on Tuesday
‘There are 21 more games. They’ll have more of where they’re going to be against here – they could be one down and need two goals, so yes, they need something from the bench.’
Arsenal have been linked with £62m target Mykhailo Mudryk this month, but the Ukrainian winger’s club Shakhtar Donestk are demanding £85m which could prove to be a sticking point for the Gunners.
It also appears Arsenal have reportedly agreed personal terms with Mudryk on a five-year deal, according to The Times.
Sportsmail reported on Monday that the Gunners have made an improved offer for Mudryk, which is understood to be around £44m up front with add-ons of up to £62m.
It came after the club had an opening offer of £35m plus £17m in add-ons rejected by the Ukrainian side.
Shakhtar Donestk £85m star Mykhailo Mudryk is a target for Arsenal in this window
Mudryk hinted at a possible move to Arsenal after watching their matches over Christmas
Mudryk, who turns 22 on January 5, was named player of the year by Shakhtar fans for the second time running on Friday.
The Ukrainian winger has emerged as one of the hottest prospects in European football after an impressive start to the season that has seen him score 10 goals in 18 matches across all competition from away.
However, if Arsenal fail in their pursuit of Mudryk, rivals Chelsea could be ready to pounce.
Neville also responded to Arteta’s claims that it was scandalous that his side were denied two penalties by suggesting that it would in fact have been a scandal if Arsenal had been awarded a penalty for a handball at the death.
Arteta was open about his frustrations after the 0-0 draw – revealing to the reporter his grievances at the decisions he felt his team rejected.
‘Extremely proud of my players,’ he said. ‘The way we played, dominated the game, tried and continued to control the game.
Arteta was furious his side were not awarded two ‘scandalous’ penalties on Tuesday
The Arsenal boss has often protested decisions throughout the affair at the Emirates
‘We need the spark in the final third. We have been in many situations. And when there are two scandals punishment.
‘There are two punishments. It is very simple. I’m talking about what I saw. These are two scandalous punishments. I am proud of the work we have done.
‘I think we lacked that extra touch or movement to finish off these chances in this game.’
However, asked to give his two cents on handball, Neville went completely the other way with the Arsenal manager and suggested he would be ‘furious’ if it was given against his side.
‘I thought it would be scandalous if it was given,’ he said.
Neville disagreed with Arteta that his side were ‘scandalous’ to be denied two penalties
‘If Arteta lost a game through this he would be furious. You can’t have your arms by your side when you slide.
‘That’s not a penalty – you go in like that to block a cross, that’s not a penalty in a million years. He would have been furious if that had been given against Ben White, [Takehiro] Tomiyasu or Oleksandr Zinchenko.’
Arteta’s plea for a death penalty seemed to annoy the Newcastle court, with Eddie Howe even stepping in to tell the Spaniard what he thought about his perceived attempts to influence the officials.
Neville said of Howe’s actions: ‘The handball at the end, Howe was right to respond to that.’
Paul Merson, who works alongside Neville, agrees. I can’t make a case [being a penalty],’ he said. ‘I am disappointed if that is given against me. I think the Burn tug is more punishment for me.’
Arsenal players surround the referee at the death because they think they should have been awarded a penalty for handball
Neville and Les Ferdinand agreed with Merson’s assessment of the Burn tug, with both admitting that Arsenal had legitimate reasons to feel aggrieved at VAR’s inaction after the Newcastle defender appeared to take several of Gabriel’s shirts in a free-kick.
‘I think that’s a stonewall penalty,’ said Merson. ‘His fist is clenched. That’s a foul anywhere on the pitch. We have found bookings that are cheaper tonight.
‘I don’t understand how that is not clear and obvious. This is a clear punishment. He has got hold of his shirt,’ agreed the former Newcastle forward. ‘If the players collide, you can understand the referees waving it in the box. But if you hold someone’s shirt and it’s as clear as day, it’s a punishment.’
Neville said it would have been a ‘scandal’ if they had been given a spot-kick
Arteta was involved in a bust up with Eddie Howe over his objections late in the game
Neville added: ‘The VAR officials including Howard Webb have been told not to get involved unless you have to. Arteta has every right to be annoyed with that one. Newcastle were very lucky there. I think they (Arsenal) have every right to feel aggrieved.’
Merson went a bit further, suggesting that the lack of a penalty for the Burn tug on Gabriel was down to a lack of understanding of the game by the officials on the basis of VAR.
‘They have no understanding of the game at Stockley Park,’ he said.
‘That was very clear and obvious. Anywhere else and it’s a free-kick. We’ve seen players booked cheaper.’
