“That doesn’t represent the Arsenal shirt or what they’re about and they’ve let themselves down as individuals.”
Gary Neville was furious watching Arsenal on Sunday. Arsene Wenger’s side lost 4-0 to Liverpool at Anfield, and put in a humiliating performance. Neville was on commentary duty for Sky Sports, and was appalled by what he witnessed.
At one point, the former Manchester United defender said he would put every Arsenal player on the transfer list, and that the team deserved to be hammered by Liverpool.
Jamie Carragher was just as critical following the game, calling Wenger’s side “cowards.”
“…maybe that’s a bit too strong and you can’t say that on live TV, but I’ll say it again” https://t.co/u4pjwrH5jQ
— SportsJOE (@SportsJOEdotie) August 28, 2017
When Sky spoke to Neville after the match, he was just as scathing of the Gunners. He largely absolved Wenger of blame, other than saying the Arsenal manager doesn’t pay enough attention to the opposition when selecting his team.
“I don’t think the team is correct,” Neville said.
“Setting up with (Granit) Xhaka and (Aaron) Ramsey in central midfield at Anfield, with Sanchez and Ozil just outside them is never going to be enough with Liverpool the way they are. I’ve never understood the lack of attention to the opposition. You play against an Arsenal team 10 or 15 years ago and at United, Darren Fletcher comes into the team to sit to the right-hand side. You play against Liverpool, you have to go and mark Steven Gerrard on the right because you know he’s going to whip crosses in. You have to pay attention to the threats and Arsenal never do that in games.”
The former Valencia coach saved his strongest criticism for the performances of five Arsenal – Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil, Aaron Ramsey, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Granit Xhaka.
Neville accused them of failing to carry out their basic defensive duties and displaying a complete lack of effort.
“The issue today I had in the first 15 or 20 minutes, and why I was as scathing I was, is because Ozil, Sanchez, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Xhaka, Ramsey, they didn’t do most basic things I think every fan, manager, and player knows. When the ball goes past you and it goes towards your goal and your team-mates are struggling, you run back as quickly as you can.
“You’re told that at the age of five. Aged 12 or 13, you’re told to get into your shape quickly and when you get into the first team you’re told about transition, give the ball way, get back in, transition, transition. I’m naming those five, there may be more, but that is absolutely disgraceful. That doesn’t represent the Arsenal shirt or what they’re about and they’ve let themselves down as individuals. In terms of who’s to blame, I can only start and end with that.”
Neville also said he would “need five Monday Night Footballs” to adequately analyse all of Arsenal’s failings.
