Mikel Arteta was left fuming again by a referee's decision at the weekend. The Arsenal boss has only exposed his hypocrisy again though after not speaking up for Liverpool.

That Mikel Merino's goal was ruled out late on for a Kai Havertz handball rubbed salt in the wounds but Mikel Arteta's mask finally slipped post-match as the Arsenal boss conceded that keeping pace with Liverpool was simply proving too difficult for the threadbare Gunners.

Arsenal could only manage a draw against Aston Villa as Mikel Arteta bemoaned his lack of options on the bench after his side were unable to earn victory and fell further behind Liverpool