Arsenal’s former captain Patrick Vieira has openly questioned the current squad’s “mental strength” following a damaging 3-2 home defeat to Manchester United, a result that intensifies the pressure in the Premier League title race.
The Gunners suffered a stunning late blow at the Emirates Stadium, with Matheus Cunha’s 87th-minute winner securing a vital victory for Michael Carrick’s United. The loss caps a worrying three-game winless run for Mikel Arteta’s side, seeing their lead at the top of the table cut from seven points to four.
While acknowledging Arsenal’s position, Vieira highlighted deeper concerns. “They’re still four points clear, but there’s still questions about the mental strength of the team,”
For the iconic former midfielder, the manner of the defeat was particularly telling. “It’s not just that they lost the game, it’s the way they lost the game,” Vieira stated. He pointed to attackers Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard as examples, saying they “didn’t produce enough to worry United.”
Vieira suggested the team is missing a galvanizing force on the pitch. “They need a leader to lift the spirit of the team,” he said. “They need to understand when they are on the pitch they have to play with more energy and more risks. They have the quality.”
He concluded by observing a lack of assuredness in the performance, noting, “They didn’t play with the freedom to express themselves.”