Wayne Rooney reveals the ‘biggest mistake’ Mikel Arteta has made at Arsenal | Football

Wayne Rooney has revealed the ‘biggest mistake’ Mikel Arteta has made during his time in charge of Arsenal.

Barring a miraculous comeback in the Premier League title race or a first-ever Champions League win, Arsenal will go a fourth successive season without a trophy under Arteta.

The Gunners have repeatedly challenged for the title over the past three years, twice finishing just behind Pep Guardiola’s record-breaking Manchester City side.

Arsenal look set for another second-place finish this season, currently sitting 13 points adrift of Premier League champions-elect Liverpool with 11 games remaining.

It has been suggested that Arsenal’s failure to sign a striker during the January transfer window cost the club a chance of winning the title but Rooney believes the ‘biggest mistake’ was in fact made last summer.

Asked if signing a striker will be Arsenal’s priority this summer, the former Manchester United and England striker said on Amazon Prime Video: ‘Yeah, you would think so.

‘Not getting a striker in the summer was the biggest mistake I think. Getting players in January is always difficult. It’s difficult to get the right players for the right price.

‘Whoever comes in [as sporting director], the priority for Arsenal has to be the No. 9. Mikel Arteta can play with a false nine but that’s the priority position.

‘That position is so important. To have someone who can score you 20-30 goals a season, that’s what you need to win titles.’

Premier League record goalscorer Alan Shearer added: ‘We need to know who made that decision. Who decided not to get a striker in January or at the start of the season?

‘They needed one last summer, never mind in January. We don’t know the answer to that but, clearly, that’s what they’ve missed and that’s what they’re still missing.

‘There’s no doubt for me that they could have won the league by now if they had a great striker. The big strikers make a difference in the big games.’

Arsenal’s lack of firepower has been a real issue in recent weeks, with the Gunners losing at home to West Ham and dropping more points at Nottingham Forest.

But they more than coped on Tuesday night, thrashing PSV 7-1 in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie out in Holland.

Speaking after Arsenal’s incredible victory, Shearer said: ‘What a night for Arsenal. You don’t get many night like this in Champions League football.’

Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton added on BBC Radio 5 Live: ‘It couldn’t have gone any better for Mikel Arteta. Excellence in Eindhoven.

‘Right from the start Arsenal had control of the game. They’ve put themselves in a marvellous position.

‘The second leg will be a formality. They just have to turn up and get the job done. This will give them great confidence for the rest of the season.’

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