Graeme Souness points out one crucial reason Manchester City will beat Arsenal in the Premier League title race
Graeme Souness has blasted Arsenal for parking the bus against Manchester City in their 2-2 draw last weekend. The pundit believes the Gunners have an inferior attitude that will prevent them from winning the Premier League title.
Arsenal traveled to the Etihad to face the defending champions in a crucial league fixture on September 22. Erling Haaland scored for Manchester City in the ninth minute before first-half goals from Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel Magalhaes put Arsenal 2-1 up.
However, the Gunners were dealt a blow before the break when Leandro Trossard was sent off for delaying a restart. After being reduced to 10 men, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta decided to switch to a low block in an attempt to hold on to their lead.
However, John Stones' stoppage-time equalizer restricted the Gunners to only one point. Souness slammed Arteta for his tactics in the second period, insisting that the Gunners will never win the league with that mentality.
He said (via GOAL):
"If you play like that 100 times, 95% of the time you'll concede goals. Arsenal had such an inferiority complex against City. They’ll be coming away from that game thinking: ‘Wow, they’re so much better than us, we’ll never win the league’. Even in the first half they weren’t really matching City blow for blow. City are a fabulous team but when you go there, you have to be brave and take them on."
The Liverpool icon added:
"Right now, teams are going to the Etihad and they’re beaten before the game has even started... They’ve shown an inferiority complex when it comes to City. They were happy to sit back and take whatever came their way at the Etihad, without getting up the pitch and trying to cause a problem. I don’t think that was a great sign."
Manchester City will next face Newcastle United while the Gunners take on Leicester City in the Premier League on Saturday (September 28).
Roy Keane slams Arsenal for playing with 'a small mentality' against Manchester City
Manchester United legend Roy Keane has laid into Arsenal for using time-wasting tactics in the Manchester City draw. The pundit believes the Gunners' mentality on the night was not of Premier League caliber.
The heated showdown between the two sides saw tensions boil over. Multiple Arsenal players could be seen going down in the second half, needing treatment on the pitch.
After the game, a few Manchester City players criticized their rivals for using 'dirty' tactics and trying to run the clock down, claims which did not sit well with Mikel Arteta.
Speaking about the game on the Stick to Football podcast, Keane said:
"This is Arsenal we're talking about – not a Championship team in the FA Cup – that's hanging in there. I'm on about when you've got it [the ball], still look after it. Don't even worry about playing one up front, but when you do get it try and get four, five, six passes. They were just booting it like a small team with a small mentality. When I see England international players just booting it out of play I'm going: 'What are you? League One? League Two?'"
The Gunners are currently fourth in the Premier League table, two points off City, who occupy the top of the league.