Roy Keane highlights Arsenal title flaw in Liverpool battle despite $400M outlay

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Roy Keane has criticized Andrea Berta following Arsenal's thrilling stalemate with Manchester City. Gabriel Martinelli rescued a point for the Gunners at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday afternoon, chipping over Gianluigi Donnarumma deep into added time as Liverpool got a title boost.

Erling Haaland had put Pep Guardiola's team in front within the first fifteen minutes after exploiting Arsenal on the break. The away side then eased off the throttle, allowing the north London outfit to attempt breaking down their defence.

After deploying a rather cautious starting eleven, the Gunners found it difficult to fashion many genuine opportunities. At the interval, Arteta took a gamble, introducing Bukayo Saka and Eberechi Eze.

The former subsequently set up Martinelli, who had come on for Jurrien Timber in the closing stages. Arsenal dominated possession throughout, though managed just three efforts on target.

Speaking to Sky Sports post-match, Keane suggested the Gunners are "short of creativity", despite splashing over $400 million on fresh talent during the summer as it battles Liverpool in the title race.

Berta recruited three forwards in Eze, Viktor Gyokeres, and Noni Madueke, the latter remaining without a goal or assist across six appearances.

The Manchester United icon remarked: "It's the same issues for Arsenal. On the one hand, you have to give them credit. They kept going, and in the end, they got a draw.

"However, when you are talking about Arsenal winning league titles and you see what Liverpool are doing and what Man City have done over the years, they are still short in terms of creativity.

"They have a lot of good players and they are a really solid team, but the standards the other teams have set over the years, they still look short in that area."

Mikel Arteta

Mikel Arteta said he is not concerned about Liverpool's early advantage in the title race

Keane added: "Man City are still trying to find their way. It's not the same City that we've seen over the years, but they sit in against Arsenal and generally did quite well.

"They just lost a bit of concentration at the end, but it was a great ball, a great run and a great finish. But there was a lack of belief from City and a lack of trying to get a second goal, so Arsenal did deserve to get something out of the game."

Jamie Carragher also observed that Arsenal continue to appear toothless in the final third. The former Liverpool center-back remarked: "I cannot get away from the fact Arsenal do not look like scoring a goal in open play and I felt that at Man United in the first game and at Anfield and today.

"Credit to them as they found a way, they had lots of set pieces, but they did not look as dangerous on them today. But this still has to be a worry for Arsenal.

"I think this season from Arsenal in their five games from open play, their xG is about three, they did not really look like scoring at all, and that is still a problem they had last season, and it still looks in these first five games they still have it."

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