Manchester United icon Gary Neville has urged Arsenal to solidify their defense if they want to win the Premier League title for the first time since 2004.
The Gunners had an emphatic start to the season, conceding just 16 goals from their first 19 league games. However, in recent weeks they have failed to keep the opposition at bay, leaking 12 goals in just six games in all competitions.
The north Londoners had lost their spot at the top of the table following their 3-1 defeat against Manchester City. But the victory against Aston Villa has put Mikel Arteta’s side two points clear of the defending champions with a game in hand.
Neville claimed that Mikel Arteta’s side has to stop conceding goals frequently if they want to clinch the title. He wants them to focus on their defending and get back to keeping clean sheets in the coming weeks. While speaking on the Gary Neville Podcast, the Manchester United ace said:
“They’ve conceded 10 goals in the last six games, I would say they need to stop conceding goals because one of the traits on a run-in is, if you’re conceding goals and teams feel like they have a chance, it’s very difficult to win a league, so they just need to watch that.”
“If they can just think about, in this next week or this next period, getting back to clean sheets – it’s really important.”
Arsenal Fever View:
Although Neville has been overly critical of Arsenal in the past, he is spot on this time. Their defense has lacked the usual solidity, especially on the flanks. A major reason for this is the absence of Thomas Partey in the midfield.
Jorginho has proved to be a capable replacement for the Ghanaian, but the former Chelsea star would struggle out of possession. He lacks the pace and physical prowess of his teammate.
The victory at Villa park put an end to the north Londoners’ four-match winless run and propels them back to the top of the table. They travel to the King Power Stadium on Saturday to take on Leicester City. With Man City breathing down their necks, they cannot afford any slip-ups.
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