Roy Keane has questioned Arsenal’s mentality and tactics after their engrossing Premier League showdown with Liverpool.
The Gunners made the perfect start to Sunday’s hotly-anticipated clash between title rivals at the Emirates Stadium, with Bukayo Saka returning from injury to fire them in front inside just nine minutes.
Arsenal quickly let that lead slip after Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk stooped to head in from a corner, but regained their advantage before half-time courtesy of summer signing Mikel Merino’s first goal for the club.
Mikel Arteta’s side - whose defensive injury issues only got worse on Sunday with Gabriel and the returning Jurrien Timber both forced off - looked to hold on to that narrow lead for much of the second half despite a below-par Liverpool display, but ultimately could not do it as Mohamed Salah popped up with another Reds equaliser nine minutes from time.
Arsenal’s approach with the lead against Liverpool certainly did not impress Manchester United legend Keane, who believes they lack the appropriate mentality to end a Premier League title drought that has now lasted 21 years and seen back-to-back near misses under Arteta.
“I’m starting to worry about this Arsenal mentality now,” Keane said on Sky Sports. “You’re 2-1 up and I’m still looking going, go on and try to win the game.
“There’s elements of Arsenal now, and it’s happened most of the season, when they get themselves in front, don’t mind excuses about injuries or when they went down to 10 men, they always seem to sit back in as if they are setting up for 2-1, trying to get something on a set-piece, instead of going and getting the third goal.
“Liverpool were there for the taking if they wanted to go for it, but it was almost - let’s hope we can win 2-1. And then when you’re up against good players like Salah, then they are good enough to punish you.”
Keane later added: “I still look at the mentality of this Arsenal group. Today, when you’re watching them live, and they are 2-1 up, circumstances, injuries, can you go on and, not take silly gambles, but you’re the home team - take the initiative.
“I always feel with this Arsenal team, particularly today, we’re 2-1 up and we’ll step back. I really worry for the Arsenal... forget about the players, for the medical staff.
“Every time an Arsenal player is tackled, they are going down, they are rolling around, they are time-wasting. They are trying to kill the game, I get that, but you are the home team, you’re 2-1 up, use the initiative, use the fans behind you. The fans were doing their best to get them over the line today.
“I just worry about that belief and that mentality. Do they really have that belief and conviction that they are a top team and they can really challenge Man City? I still don’t see it.
“I think they’ve made great progress and it seems really critical, but you have to look at it when you compare them to where Man City have got to in the last few years.”
