Gary Neville has blamed Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard and three other senior Gunners stars for the club’s faltering title challenge.
The North London side remain at the top of the table with a two-point buffer between themselves and nearest challengers Manchester City. However, they appear to be stuttering at the wrong time after four games without a win - a run that was worsened with a heavy defeat to Pep Guardiola’s men during their most recent outing.
Arsenal failed to get anywhere near City during their trip to the Etihad Stadium and are now in a hugely vulnerable position ahead of the final run-in. Following the full-time whistle against City, former Man United defender Neville was highly critical of the display of a number of the senior Gunners stars.
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.
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“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.”
Arsenal will certainly be hoping to get their title challenge back on charge over the next week. The Gunners take on struggling Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday evening before a testing showdown with Newcastle at St James’ Park next Sunday.
They could however be down in second before then with Man City set to be in action three times over the next week. Guardiola’s side take on Fulham at Craven Cottage on Sunday, with home games against relegation candidates West Ham and Leeds to follow.
