Arsenal fans surrender title hopes and criticize Mikel Arteta for committing what they see as the ‘biggest mistake of his career’ during the Aston Villa match.

Arsenal fans have seemingly given up on their title hopes after squandering a two-goal lead against Aston Villa, with many criticizing Mikel Arteta for what they describe as the “biggest mistake of his career.”

After a 2-1 victory over Spurs in the North London derby on Wednesday, Arsenal raced to a 2-0 lead against Villa through goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz. Despite the absence of key defender William Saliba, the team appeared poised for a strong performance. However, Villa fought back, equalizing through goals from Youri Tielemans and Ollie Watkins.

Earlier in the day, Liverpool’s 2-0 win over Brentford, courtesy of a Darwin Nunez brace, widened the gap in the title race. Following Arsenal’s dropped points, many fans now believe their chances of winning the league are slim.

Additionally, several supporters vented their frustration at midfielder Mikel Merino, questioning the decision to sign him from Real Sociedad for £31.6 million in the summer. One fan on X fumed, “The title is gone if we can’t win at home. What can you expect when the manager plays a midfielder at right back and signs Merino instead of a forward?” Others echoed similar sentiments, questioning Merino’s performances and Arteta’s rationale for signing him.

Late in the game, Arsenal thought they had secured a win when Merino’s long-range effort deflected off Havertz and into the net. However, a VAR review disallowed the goal, ruling the ball had touched Havertz’s hand.

Arsenal now trail Liverpool by six points in the title race, with the Merseyside club having played one fewer game due to a postponed derby with Everton in December. Arsenal will look to bounce back when they face Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League on Wednesday before visiting Wolves next Saturday.