Gary Neville has attributed Arsenal's faltering title challenge to an "obsession with set pieces."

The Gunners fell 11 points behind in the Premier League title race at the weekend with leaders Liverpool almost out of sight and closing in on their 20th title.

Manchester United legend and Sky Sports pundit Neville believes Arsenal have missed their opportunity, just as the major teams were caught off guard when Leicester achieved their 5,000-1 title miracle in 2016.

In a season where defending champions Manchester City lag nine points behind Arsenal with 12 games left, manager Mikel Arteta is set to squander Arsenal's best chance to end a 21-year wait for a top-flight title.

Gary Neville slams 'rigid' Arsenal and names the 'obsession' which has proven their downfall - and why this season is more of a problem than the last two	Gary Neville hits out at Arsenal ‘obsession’ after Liverpool extend lead at top	Arsenal told their 'obsession' is to blame for failure to match Liverpool in title race

Saturday's lacklustre 1-0 home defeat to West Ham appears to be the final nail in the coffin for another near-miss with the title.

On the Gary Neville Podcast, the former England defender suggested that Arsenal's focus on corners and free-kicks has come at the expense of fluidity in open play.

He said: "Arsenal have become quite rigid, quite turgid to watch at times.

"This obsession with set-pieces overtaking the whole game, exacerbated by the presence of the set-piece coach (Nicolas Jover) on the touchline, puts more focus on set-pieces.

And I think the freedom has gone a little bit from them.

"I know they have lost (Bukayo) Saka, (Gabriel) Jesus, and (Kai) Havertz, which are big blows and that is a big problem for Arsenal, but I still feel they have to do the job against West Ham at home."

Arteta's spate of injuries to crucial forwards, also including Gabriel Martinelli, has left him with limited attacking options, forcing midfielder Mikel Merino into an unfamiliar role as a makeshift No.

9.

This situation only highlights Arsenal's inability to secure a top-tier striker in recent transfer windows.

Neville commented: "It's a defence but then you've got to plan for it.

"I know they didn't want to do business in the January transfer window - they thought there wasn't quite the value in the market or they couldn't get the player that would come in and impact them.

"But they have left themselves short, there's no doubt about that.

"The last two seasons they've gone very close and I've had a lot of admiration, but this season is more of a problem because when City weren't going to be there, the team that had to be there were Arsenal in my mind.

"It's not going to be them, it doesn't look like, and that's the big shock and surprise, and I think that'll be the one that will hit hardest in the boardroom, and (with) Mikel Arteta, and the dressing room and the players.

"Questions will start to be asked because, a little bit like that Leicester season when a couple of the teams didn't win it, you start to ask questions of those teams, saying, 'Hang on a minute, Leicester went and won it.' It's that type of season where it's up for grabs."

Neville's harsh remarks may somewhat be from a bygone era.

Arsenal were top scorers from set pieces in the Premier League with 20 goals last season, yet this time around they find themselves fourth in the dead-ball stakes with 10.


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