Arsenal's physicality and mental robustness have been questioned by a former Manchester United star following their 3-2 home defeat on Sunday
Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba have been labelled "weak" and "fragile" following Arsenal's costly loss to Manchester United. The harsh critique came from former United centre-back Phil Jones, who didn't hold back in his analysis of Sunday's clash at the Emirates.
The 3-2 loss was the Gunners' third successive league match without a victory and saw their advantage at the summit reduced to four points after a weekend where Manchester City and Aston Villa both secured wins. Gabriel and Saliba have been cornerstones of the Gunners' backline in recent campaigns.
But Jones was taken aback by what he perceived as a "lack of a relationship between the two." He believes they were affected by the nervousness he felt had spread among the home supporters.
Jones told the Sports Illustrated FC podcast: "I like Gabriel and Saliba, I think they have been top quality centre-halves, but it was the most fragile I have ever seen them at the weekend.
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"I thought they looked nervous. I thought there was a lack of a relationship between the two. They sensed a fear in the stadium, that anxiety.
"They weren't poor by any stretch but they looked fragile and a bit weak at times. It is the most fractious I have seen those two. You can sense that fear and desperation of wanting it so much, it is almost infectious. When United equalised, it ran through the team."
Jones believed the Arsenal team as a whole lacked physical presence, particularly in midfield. Mikel Arteta seemingly shared this view, making four substitutions just shy of the hour mark, including withdrawing captain Martin Odegaard and fellow midfielder Martin Zubimendi, whose mistake had handed United their first-half leveller.
Jones continued: "I thought for big periods in the game they struggled physically and it is not something you would associate with Arsenal. Odegaard was overrun at times with United players in there and I could see the substitution coming.
"He didn't really influence the game how he would have liked and struggled with the physical demands of the game." Meanwhile, Gunners icon Patrick Vieira, speaking on Sky Sports, said there are "questions about the mental strength of the team."
When asked to respond, Arteta replied: "That's fine. We accept every opinion, where it's coming from. They have the right reason to say it. At the end, we have to show the mental strength that we have on the pitch when it comes to a match day."
With mounting pressure, the Gunners complete their Champions League league games at home to Kairat Almaty on Wednesday before a challenging Premier League trip to Leeds on Saturday.
liuilnorty
0
funny how every shiit player pandits anchors are cussing arsenal??look at this shiit Phil Jones saying the best pair weak lols
Afrosports
1
Nonsense post, is winning a league that easy ? Arsenal must have some shaky runs which they just had, and will pick up eventually
husaelosy
1
i don't think if the were many mistakes caused by ars, what happened were ordinary issues. kerp on arsenal.
padbdiklm
0
Every failed ManU player and misfits have suddenly found their voices. Phil Jones even in his active days as a player was largely anonymous
With 5 premier league and 1 champions league
recbdnuy
0
Arteta himself lacks mental strength. Shown my his rushed quadruple changes. Very rash!
resabekpst
1
Arteta has reached his maximum height technically he can't take the team any further than he has done. With such squad depth give that team to Mourinho or Ernesto and you're assured of winning trophies. Arteta's team selections and substitutions are mostly questionable. Trossard has been the best player in the recent games but is always the first one to be taken off. There are games where he was supposed to take off Gyokeres and have trossard Saka and make/martinelli as front 3 but he stuck with Gyokeres
Trossaud has been the best player you say, are you having a laugh. He is a liability and i wouldn’t have him near the club. He is:- arrogant, greedy and selfish, definitely not a team player, or a winger. Sell him he’s useless. No top club would take him.
resabekpst
3
1 poor performance and the world is against us. Enjoy your day of happiness, but be prepared for a storm is coming:-ARSENAL.!!!!
Roeadekryz
0
Arteta has reached his maximum height technically he can't take the team any further than he has done. With such squad depth give that team to Mourinho or Ernesto and you're assured of winning trophies. Arteta's team selections and substitutions are mostly questionable. Trossard has been the best player in the recent games but is always the first one to be taken off. There are games where he was supposed to take off Gyokeres and have trossard Saka and make/martinelli as front 3 but he stuck with Gyokeres
Slimfit15
0
Arteta ruined the game. Period!
lowbekortz
0
the line up I wanna see in the champions league, with Salmon on the right back
[image]
useless
layackmpu
0
the line up I wanna see in the champions league, with Salmon on the right back
pombcdklnr
2
Every failed ManU player and misfits have suddenly found their voices. Phil Jones even in his active days as a player was largely anonymous