Former Chelsea player Craig Burley has slammed Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, saying he can no longer make excuses for the team’s struggles.

For the past two seasons, Arsenal has been seen as a strong contender for the Premier League title. However, they are currently in second place, trailing league leaders Liverpool by 15 points with only 10 games remaining. Their latest Premier League match ended in a 1-1 draw, marking their third consecutive game without a win.

Burley, speaking on ESPN FC, believes Arsenal’s problems are not due to missing players or a lack of a proper striker. Instead, he argues that their summer signings have not been good enough.

“It’s becoming embarrassing for Arsenal in this title race,” Burley said. “They are 15 points behind Liverpool, and it’s not because of referees, injuries, or people being against them.”

He pointed out that Arsenal dominated possession against Manchester United but failed to create clear chances. “How many saves did Onana have to make in the first half? I can’t think of any,” he said.

Burley dismissed the idea that Arsenal’s problems come from not having a top striker. He argued that the team’s final passes, crosses, and shooting were poor. “It wasn’t about lacking a clinical striker; it was about bad decision-making in attack,” he explained.

According to Burley, Arsenal’s real issue is their recruitment. He believes their summer signings have not improved the team enough. “The excuses are running out for Arteta,” he concluded.

With Arsenal struggling to keep up in the title race, pressure is growing on Arteta to find solutions before the season ends.