Piers Morgan has ripped into Mikel Arteta in light of the Arsenal manager’s transfer gamble spectacularly backfiring.
Rather than invest in their already injury-ravaged squad during the January window, the Gunners opted to keep their powder dry until the summer when they are expected to invest heavily in their attack.
A reluctance to spend last month meant the goalscoring burden was only likely to increase on the likes of Leandro Trossard, Raheem Sterling, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli.
Two of that quartet, however, have already suffered injuries since the window closed leaving Arsenal without a recognised striker.
Havertz is set to undergo a scan on Wednesday having aggravated a muscle injury during a warm weather training camp in Dubai, while Martinelli will miss at least a month with a hamstring strain.
Reacting to the news, celebrity Arsenal fan Morgan took the opportunity to take aim at Arteta whose thriftiness could ultimately cost his club the chance of winning the Premier League or Champions League.
‘Great,’ said Morgan with a monumental helping of sarcasm. ‘Our only striker injured.
Arteta on options to cover for Havertz
‘We are going to have to be flexible in the front line, the ones we have we have to make sure they stay fit and are contributing, can play in that position.
‘Raheem (Sterling) has played in that position, Ethan (Nwaneri) I think can play in that position, (Gabriel) Martinelli, so lets see in relation to how everybody is in the moment, the opponent.
‘But at some point I think we will have to try something different.’
‘Arteta has been so monumentally derelict in failing to sign new strikers, and now we be left with none at all.’
After a week off, the Gunners head into what is likely to prove a decisive phase of their season.
Arteta’s men are back in action against Leicester City this weekend before games against West Ham, Nottingham Forest, Manchester United and Chelsea prior to the international break.
Should Liverpool lose against Everton this evening in the final Merseyside derby to be played at Goodison Park, Arsenal would have the chance to cut the gap at the top to just three points when they face the Foxes at the King Power on Saturday lunchtime.
