Sky Sports’ Gary Neville says Arsenal will “need a wheelbarrow” to get over the finish line in the Premier League title race after their 1-0 win over Newcastle. Saturday Night Football.
A superb early goal from Eberechi Eze sealed the win, taking the Gunners back to the top by three points over Manchester City.
The pressure was on for the north Londoners to respond after last weekend’s defeat to Pep Guardiola’s side, with City beating Burnley on Wednesday to go top.
Neville believes the next four league games will not be comfortable for Arsenal as they chase a first league title in 22 years due to a lack of experience at the helm.
he said Gary Neville Podcast: “You can feel the tension. There are a lot of people you haven’t seen in a long time or haven’t seen at all.
“It’s a group of players we’ve never seen before. If they cross the line, they’re going to have to cartwheel over it. They’re not going to sail across the line. That’s going to be really tough. They’re not going to suddenly be in Heat form in the next few weeks.”
He was also critical of Arsenal’s overall performance despite their win against Newcastle, adding: “A lot of what Arsenal did in this game was not good from a tactical point of view.
“They are very good defensively and work really hard. They really make a mad run to get themselves back. They defend really well and are compact.
“They are very well organized and that requires a lot of respect… That is something to be really proud of and they can win the title.
“But what you want is that expression, the freedom for them to play forward and run forward and be more confident in their attacking play and that didn’t come through at all today.”
“The goals come from set pieces, but I can’t think of any other chances they create from open play because they get the ball into the final third and then sometimes recycle it very safely.
“That’s been a criticism of me for years. What do you think?
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WATCH FREE: Highlights of Premier League match between Arsenal and Newcastle United
“I understand recycling the ball on the edge of the box when it’s 2-0 or 3-0, trying to pull it out, frustrating it, working it, moving it from side to side but they don’t do that, they don’t do it quickly when they move from side to side.
“We see someone moving almost side to side with the ball, taking touches and touches, and the Newcastle players don’t really have to move at all, they just stand in front of you.
“Sometimes the ideas are invisible and not positive enough.”
Neville praises Arsenal’s patience for short corners
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Eberechi Eze scored inside the first 10 minutes to put Arsenal ahead of Newcastle.
Eze’s goal was scored from a short corner. The Gunners’ third game started in a matter of minutes, and after the first two games, groans erupted from the stands.
But it was clear they had a plan and the winger’s stunning goal from distance ultimately secured victory.
Neville credited Arsenal for persevering through their routine but warned they need to add more goals to have the best chance of winning the league.
He said: “They also deserve huge credit for what they did with set-pieces today, because 99 out of 100 teams played into the box for the third when the fans were groaning after the second, but they did it again.
“They were almost probing for an area but coming in and what they were trying to do was solve the space on the edge of the box and how they got to (Kai) Havertz and Eze, which was key on the edge of the box. Excellent finish.
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Paul Merson and Jamie Redknapp praise Arsenal winner Eberechi Eze.
“Eze seems to have a bit of confidence and a bit of swagger about him, and it’s worked really well.
“Set-pieces are a big part of this Arsenal team and they have meant they have won again.
“Arsenal can keep clean sheets, but City are in much better form at the moment from an attacking point of view. Arsenal will have to keep clean sheets, win every game and have a chance to win the title.”
“We have a really good defense, but we also need goals.”
‘Arteta will not prioritize the Champions League or the Premier League. He must go to both.’
With the competition for the Premier League title in full swing, Arsenal has also advanced to the semifinals of the Champions League. They play the first leg from a distance. atletico madrid On Wednesday.
Neville said this about the dueling competition: “There will be no priority because they are in the two biggest competitions, they have to participate in both competitions.
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Mikel Arteta spoke to Sky Sports after his side beat Newcastle to return to the top of the Premier League.
“The only way this will work for Arsenal is to keep the momentum going, keep winning and somehow loosen the reins, while also ensuring that the defensive balance is in place and the set-piece organization remains intact.
“They need to have more freedom in their attacking play. If you think of the glass as half full, they can be Champions League winners and Premier League winners.
“I think now they are thinking, ‘We have to win the league.’ I don’t think they are thinking, ‘We have to win the Champions League.’”
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Gary Neville has claimed Arsenal’s Martin Zubimendi is struggling in the title race and suggested Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice need to step up and have the ball to help the Gunners become a more positive side.
“A lot of these players don’t know how to win the Champions League, but they have been very close in the title race and will be desperate not to fall on that score.”
“I think Mikel Arteta has to play every game and not prioritize other games, but he knows the Premier League is easier to win than the Champions League at the moment.”
“I think there are better teams than them in the Champions League. It’s a cup competition. There are three games left and only four games left in the league, so you could argue that it’s easy to win both, but I don’t see them beating Atletico Madrid and other teams in the semi-finals, but I think they have a chance in the league.”
