Gary Neville agrees with Roy Keane on Arsenal vs Man United verdict as ‘terrible’ admission made
Gary Neville and Roy Keane were critical of how Arsenal responded to going in front during their eventual defeat to Manchester United
Aaron Morris Senior Sports Reporter and Kieran Horn
19:13, 25 Jan 2026Updated 19:13, 25 Jan 2026
Gary Neville and Roy Keane were critical of Arsenal in Manchester United’s huge win at Emirates Stadium(Image: (Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images))
Gary Neville heavily criticised Mikel Arteta’s tactics after Arsenal surrendered their advantage against Manchester United on Sunday, describing the Gunners’ game management as “terrible.”
Arsenal welcomed United to the Emirates Stadium hoping to extend their cushion at the summit of the Premier League standings. Following an exceptionally promising opening from the home side, United fell behind 1-0 through a Lisandro Martinez own goal inside his six-yard area after 29 minutes.
Nevertheless, Arsenal couldn’t maintain their advantage for long, with Bryan Mbeumo restoring parity eight minutes after that by rounding David Raya and slotting into an empty net. Following his strike, Neville – providing Sky Sports co-commentary – was quick to slam Arsenal’s strategic approach after taking the lead.
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He said: “Well you have to say Arsenal’s management and control of the game since going one up has been terrible. They’ve really gifted United two or three moments and that one is the biggest gift.”
Meanwhile, analysing United’s equaliser during the interval, Roy Keane said: “It looked like the goal kind of set Arsenal back a little bit. They definitely look tentative, they look nervous.
“It’s a bit like the Liverpool game here a few weeks ago. The fans seem nervous, as if they’re afraid to embrace the challenge. They’re more concentrating on not losing the game.
“I don’t know where Declan [Rice] is going there, the ball goes back to [Martin] Zubimendi a bit too quickly, really. He’s got to do better. A bit of calmness, a bit of composure.
“And United obviously have had a lot of encouragement. You can see it here again, Arsenal, just even trying to keep it at the back. They looked a bit nervous at the back.
“Lovely, lovely finish and United deserved that. There’s definitely tension in the air and they’re not dealing with it.”
Patrick Dorgu made it back-to-back Manchester United matches on the score sheet(Image: Getty Images)
The visitors continued playing well and went in front when Patrick Dorgu, who later went off injured, fired in from distance.
Mikel Merino levelled proceedings in the final 10 minutes and it looked as though Arsenal would go on to get a winner.
However, it was United that scored the game’s fifth goal with Matheus Cunha unleashing a rocket that flew past David Raya.
It is now back-to-back victories for Michael Carrick since his arrival on an interim basis with United up to fourth.
