Manchester United legend Gary Neville believes that Arsenal‘s performance at Old Trafford yesterday wasn’t indicative of a side that will win the Premier League title this campaign.
The Gunners struggled to have any sort of impact for much of the game and fell behind to a Juan Mata strike but a later header from substitute Olivier Giroud secured a scarcely-deserved point.
As a result, the north London outfit are in fourth place in the table, three points adrift of league leaders Chelsea, but Neville suggests that it seems unlikely- at this juncture at least- that Arsene Wenger’s side will go on to be crowned league champions.
As reported by Sky Sports, Neville said: “It was a really poor performance from Arsenal, but they’ve come away and got a point.
“In my playing days, we would have absolutely been delighted with a point away at a big club, especially being 1-0 down with a few minutes to go.
“You’d be thinking: ‘That’s what wins titles.’ That’s the sort of language we’d be using in the dressing room after.
“I didn’t get the impression or feeling today that I was watching the champions. It can change, we know it can change, but when I think of the performance of Chelsea against United, or even Liverpool away at Chelsea, or Tottenham against City, or City against United, there was far more intensity and quality in those games.
“I didn’t get the feeling watching Arsenal on Saturday that we were watching a team that would go on and win the league, but that’s just me in this moment.
“You’d have to question Arsenal today for 85 minutes, they didn’t show any belief, any purpose. I do think, however, after internationals you have to give a bit of leeway. Sir Alex used to say we would come back with our head full of mince, travelling from different places. It’s not easy.”
Arsenal haven’t lost in the league since they were beaten by Liverpool on the opening day of the campaign, but, although they have played some impressive attacking football this season, there remains a vulnerability about Wenger’s team that has been present for some time.
The Gunners’ attention now switches to the Champions League, with a home game against Paris Saint-Germain to come on Wednesday.
COMMENTS