“Arteta is making the right decision at the wrong moment. He should have promoted this player earlier, but instead, he focused on playing Merino as his main striker. Now, Liverpool has made a big move, and I’m not happy,” says Arsenal legend Thierry Henry, criticizing Mikel Arteta for promoting a very aggressive academy striker at the wrong time.

BREAKING: Thierry Henry Slams Arteta for Delayed Promotion of Academy Star as Liverpool Runs Away in Title Race

Arsenal legend Thierry Henry has openly criticized Mikel Arteta for what he describes as a case of “doing the right thing at the wrong time.” The Frenchman is frustrated that Arteta only recently promoted a highly aggressive academy striker, despite his clear potential, while relying on Mikel Merino as Arsenal’s main forward for most of the season.

With Liverpool pulling away in the Premier League title race, Henry believes Arteta’s decision has come too late. “He should have promoted this guy all the while, but he was busy playing Merino as his main striker. Now Liverpool has gone too far, I’m not happy,” Henry expressed in a fiery post-match reaction.

Instant Impact: The New Striker Can’t Stop Scoring

Since his long-overdue promotion to the first team, the young striker has been making an explosive impact. Incredibly, he has scored back-to-back hat-tricks, proving himself to be exactly the kind of clinical finisher Arsenal has been lacking. His aggression, sharp movement, and finishing ability have added a new dimension to the Gunners’ attack.

The question now is: Why did Arteta wait so long? Arsenal has struggled with finishing chances in crucial games this season, dropping points that now seem costly as Liverpool continues to extend their lead at the top. If this academy sensation had been given a chance earlier, could the title race be different?

Arteta’s Gamble and Arsenal’s Title Hopes

Mikel Arteta has been under pressure to find a reliable goal-scoring solution, especially with Merino failing to deliver the expected numbers.

While his trust in the experienced forward was understandable, the late introduction of the academy talent raises serious concerns about decision-making in the crucial stages of the season.

Henry’s frustration reflects the feelings of many Arsenal fans who now wonder if their club has let the title slip away due to stubbornness in squad selection. With the young striker now in red-hot form, Arsenal may have finally found the answer to their striker problem—but is it too late to change the course of the title race?

As the season nears its climax, Arsenal must hope that their new star’s goal-scoring streak continues. Otherwise, this could go down as one of the biggest ‘what-ifs’ of Arteta’s tenure.