Piers Morgan has hit out over his 'refusal' to sign a top striker after watching 's title hopes go up in smoke at the weekend.

The Gunners dropped precious points in the title race after on Saturday afternoon. And things went from bad to worse for Arteta and Co. when took advantage of their slip-up to move 11 points clear at the summit .

Several Arsenal fans and pundits have expressed their frustration after was ruled out for the season.

And with the club now looking likely to miss out on the title for a third successive year, has blamed Arsenal's regression this season on Arteta after he decided against signing a new forward.

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“Dear ⁦Mikel Arteta… we’re now going backwards under your tenure because of your bizarre refusal to sign a class striker,” he wrote in a scathing post on X which included pictures of a host of Arsenal's top strikers from recent seasons.

“To help focus your mind, we need one with the calibre of these guys below. So, for God’s sake stop being so damn stubborn and get us one.”

Arsenal are expected to sign a new striker after keeping their powder dry in January, where it was established that it would not be possible to land their top targets, such as Benjamin Sesko.

Do you agree with Morgan's verdict, Arsenal fans?

But disaster struck just days after the transfer window ended as - the club's last remaining recognised senior striker - .

Mikel Merino scored twice after playing as an emergency striker last week against , but the Spaniard and his team-mates were unable to follow that up against in a match that could prove decisive in the title race.

A devastated Arteta took responsibility for the result post-match, saying: “The moment we got into the areas, then you have to unlock something, and we didn't. That is down to me as well. That is my responsibility and I don't want to all to the players.

“Today we weren't at the level required to be convincingly better than the opponent. It is painful. We need to feel the pain today, we deserve it.”

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