“Gary Neville Criticizes ‘Scruffy’ Arsenal Star as ‘the Problem’ in 2-0 Defeat to Aston Villa, Paul Merson Suggests Bench Role Would Have Been Better”

 

 

Gary Neville and Paul Merson Criticize Arsenal Star After Aston Villa Defeat

Arsenal suffered a significant setback in the title race with a 2-0 home loss to Aston Villa, prompting criticism from pundits Gary Neville and Paul Merson. The defeat, marked by late goals from Leon Bailey and Ollie Watkins, handed Manchester City the advantage in the title race.

Manager Mikel Arteta made tactical changes, including moving Kai Havertz to central midfield and starting Leandro Trossard on the left, while Gabriel Jesus led the attack. However, the tactical switch failed to yield results as Arsenal failed to score.

Neville singled out Gabriel Jesus for his poor end product during the match, describing his play as “scruffy” and suggesting he was the problem in Arsenal’s struggle to break down Villa’s defense.

Merson echoed Neville’s sentiments, questioning Arteta’s decision to deviate from a winning lineup and suggesting Jesus should have been utilized as a substitute instead.

Both pundits expressed concerns about Arteta’s team selection and tactical decisions, highlighting the importance of consistency in the lineup and utilizing bench options effectively.