Gary Neville believes Arsenal have collapsed in the Premier League title race because they show too much ’emotion’ when the pressure is on – accusing Mikel Arteta’s side of ‘over-celebrating’ victories earlier in the season.
Mikel Arteta’s Gunners may well see their chances of Premier League glory extinguished next weekend after their shock 3-0 home defeat against Brighton on Sunday.
Several pundits have accused Arsenal of losing their nerve – having led the top flight for a staggering 93 per cent of the 2022-23 season – and even Arteta has accepted the title race is all but over.
Former Manchester United defender Neville, 48, also said the north London side have ‘thrown away’ the trophy as they have been unable to deliver in ‘the most pressurised environments’.
Speaking on Monday Night Football, Neville said: ‘I do think there is an element of throwing the title away in terms of dropping points.
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal saw their title hopes all but ended in a 3-0 defeat by Brighton on Sunday
Gary Neville told Monday Night Football that the Gunners have shown too much ’emotion’
‘Look, in 2023 we don’t use the same emotive language. If this was the Kevin Keegan era this Arsenal team would be being criticised badly.
‘At high performance level you have to perform. The biggest moments, the most pressurised environments, you have top deliver in those moments.’
The former defender also singled out specific moments which showed why Arsenal got too far ahead of themselves with Man City still hot on their heels in second.
He cited wins against Aston Villa, as well as individual moments from Oleksandr Zinchenko, Granit Xhaka and Thomas Partey, as among those contributing to Arsenal’s late-season downfall.
‘The over-celebration against Villa, Zinchenko after Bournemouth, you want leaders in the team to spread composure and lift the anxiety,’ Neville said.
‘There’s an element of emotion, Xhaka at Anfield, Partey’s form dropping off, and from that it’s become tough for them mentally.’
Neville added: ‘We never had them in the top four. I said a few weeks ago that this has been an exceptional season for Arsenal.
‘The problem for some people is it doesn’t look like a good season and they’ll find it difficult themselves but I think it’s been an outstanding season.’
Oleksandr Zinchenko was singled out for his reaction during their win over Bournemouth
Jamie Carragher said Arsenal’s lack of a top-quality centre back has led to their downfall
Fellow pundit Jamie Carragher said Arsenal’s defensive issues have been a contributing factor to their collapse, claiming Arteta’s Gunners lack a notable centre back to join the canon of celebrated Premier League defenders.
Carragher said: ‘Defensively it’s been a massive drop off. When I think of Van Dijk, Vidic, Terry, Ferdinand, these figures, these big centre backs, and when I look at Arsenal’s centre backs I don’t think they have one of them yet.’
Arsenal’s recent form has seen them lose top spot in the Premier League – with draws against Liverpool, West Ham and Southampton, as well as Sunday’s defeat, allowing City to gain the upper hand.
Neville believes the Gunners will reflect upon that two-month spell and kick themselves after losing their grip on first place.
Neville said: ‘I think other than the game against Man City, Arsenal are more than capable of getting results in all those games. It has been about mentality in the five to six week period.
Arsenal’s fate will be sealed next weekend with a defeat, or if Manchester City beat Chelsea
‘I think they’ll look at that run of games and regret it. They had a free run and they couldn’t be better positioned. They will look at that and feel really down about it thinking have they let the opportunity of a lifetime pass them?
‘It’s just left them, everything has left them, and they haven’t got those experienced players to get them over the line.’
If Arsenal lose Saturday evening’s match at Nottingham Forest, then Manchester City will be crowned champions for the third straight season.
Otherwise, City just have to match the Gunners’ result when they host Chelsea the following day.
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