Gary Neville has slammed four Arsenal stars believed to be in the senior group of the squad for their recent poor displays. The Gunners have not won in the Premier League since Sunday, April 1 drawing three consecutive games before losing their advantage in the title race with Manchester City beating them 4-1.
Despite winning just three points from 12 available, Mikel Arteta's remain top of the table clear of City by two points. However, that could change this weekend with Pep Guardiola's men in action against Fulham where a victory would take them to the summit.
Arsenal's planned weekend fixture against London rivals Chelsea was moved to next Tuesday evening for policing reasons, but the Gunners could return to the top with a first triumph in over a month by condemning Chelsea to their seventh defeat in the last eight games.
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The back injury suffered by William Saliba, which has seen him miss the last month of action, has greatly affected Arsenal's title challenge. However, Neville has picked out four players he believes are at fault for the Gunners' lack of wins in the last few months.
Speaking on The Overlap, he said: “I look at Martin Odegaard, fantastic professional. Oleksandr Zinchenko, great professional. But when you actually get to the highest pressurised moments in the biggest matches in the crux of the season, are they leaders then?
“Arsenal’s senior players, Partey, Zinchenko, Odegaard, in the most difficult period – when those younger players like Saka and Martinelli needed that guidance, Jesus needed telling to stop running around and just stand up front and be really disciplined in how you play – they didn’t impact the rest of their teammates on the pitch, I don’t believe. In fact, they contributed to the difficulties they were having in the matches.
“Xhaka at Anfield [referring to the incident with Trent Alexander-Arnold ], Partey’s performances in the last few games, I think Zinchenko gave a goal away in one game as well – the Liverpool game and maybe West Ham as well – and Odegaard had probably his most difficult game as well against Manchester City.
“And then if you think of the huddle that Zinchenko did [against Southampton ] and then Odegaard came over and said, ‘Break up’. So those four players that are the leaders in that team have not been able – at the moment those younger players needed it – to really pull them together and keep them calm and composed. That to me has been apparent these last few weeks.”
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