Manchester United legend Gary Neville blasted the Arsenal players for their lacklustre display at the Etihad stadium as Arsene Wenger's side slumped to a second 2-1 defeat in the space of five days. Arsenal’s trip to the Northwest yielded them nothing as they surrendered a 1-0 lead to both Everton and Manchester City and subsequently fell nine points behind Chelsea in the title race.
Despite losing two games in a row, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger insisted that his side are mentally strong. However, Gary Neville disagrees with the Frenchman and the former Manchester United player is of the opinion that Arsenal are bereft of mental toughness.
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“I disagree with his point about mentality being strong, I don't think it is,” said Neville. “There was a huge physical drop for Arsenal in the second half, I'm not quite sure where that has come from. They just looked completely lethargic, they were walking around the pitch, in such a huge game,” said the Sky Sports pundit.
“Initially, I thought it was a tactical thing, them not pressurising [in the second half], but they didn't pressurise at all. They physically just dropped in the second half. I'm trying to think of an excuse as to why they were so lethargic, so inactive in the game, and I'm finding it difficult I have to say. It's such an important game, with Chelsea driving clear. To put that performance in for the last hour of this match was startling,” he added.
City turn the screws in the second half
The Arsenal vs Manchester City clash was a must win game for both the sides and City, who were hoping for a good early start, were stunned when Theo Walcott fired the visitors ahead in the 5th minute. The Citizens failed to test Petr Cech in the first 45 minutes and Arsenal went into the break with the 1-0 lead intact.
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However, the game turned on its head in the second half as whatever Pep Guardiola said to his players during the half-time break paid dividends. The Sky Blues shifted up the gears in the second half and goals from Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling helped Guardiola secure a vital win which lifted City to the second spot in the league table.
The defeat means that Arsenal need to put together a good run of results to reignite their title hopes. The Gunners have two consecutive home games against West Bromwich Albion and Crystal Palace coming up and nothing short of six points from those games would help their cause.
