Gary Neville gives shock reason why Arsenal have 'fallen short' in Premier League title race with Liverpool

Gary Neville has explained why he believes Arsenal will 'just fall short' in the Premier League title race - and it isn't solely down to injuries.

The Gunners do not currently have a fit centre forward, with Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz both suffering serious injuries at the beginning of 2025.

Arsenal decided not to sign a striker, even temporarily, in January with only Havertz available - a surprise decision which now looks set to prove extremely costly.

Manager Mikel Arteta fielded midfielder Mikel Merino up front against West Ham due to his physical attributes, which helped to prove decisive in Arsenal's 2-0 win over Leicester in the previous match as the Spaniard scored a brace.

But a 1-0 defeat to West Ham on Saturday now leaves Arsenal 11 points behind league leaders Liverpool, with a game in hand.

Mikel Arteta pictured during Arsenal's 1-0 defeat to West Ham on Saturday (Image: Getty)

While the title race is not yet close to being mathematically over, Gunners fans are getting closer to accepting that they will be extending their wait for a Premier League title to 21 years.

Speaking on Sky Sports, Neville said: "They've fallen short. Even without players, they still have to do that job yesterday [against West Ham].

"The last two seasons, they've gone very close, and I had a lot of admiration for them. I felt they were getting close.

"This season is more of a problem for them than the last two because when City weren't going to be there, the team that had to be there was Arsenal, because of the growth and how close they were getting.

"And it's not going to be them. It doesn't look like, anyway.

"Questions will start to be asked, because it's that type of season where you think it's up for grabs. Arne Slot has come in as the new manager, Klopp's left. I certainly felt there would be a drop-off at Liverpool, but Slot has been such a cool customer from day one - he's in complete control.

"Arsenal have become quite rigid. They've become turgid, at times, to watch.

Arsenal set piece coach Nicolas Jover directs proceedings from the touchline (Image: Getty)

"This obsession with set pieces, which was overtaking their whole game, exacerbated by this presence of the set-piece coach on the touchline which puts more focus on set pieces. It's like... no. The freedom's gone a little bit from them."

Set pieces have become an increasingly integral part of Arsenal's game over the past 12 months, with the Gunners devising a number of effective routines through set piece coach Nicolas Jover.

The Spaniard even had a mural unveiled outside the Emirates Stadium - but the Gunners' potency from dead ball situations is beginning to slip.