Former Arsenal full-back Lee Dixon says Mikel Arteta must “let the handbrake come off just a little bit” if the Gunners are to land their first Premier League title since 2003.
Yesterday’s 3-2 defeat by Manchester United on the Emirates means Arsenal have dropped seven factors of their final three league video games with their lead at the summit trimmed back to four points following wins over the weekend for Manchester City and Aston Villa.
They’ve additionally scored simply twice in these three video games regardless of a squad stacked with attacking expertise. And Dixon believes Arteta must be braver in video games to let his offensive gamers thrive.
The previous England right-back, who gained the title 4 instances with Arsenal, advised BBC 5 Reside: “The handbrake wants to come back off just a little bit. That is Mikel Arteta’s first job. He has been given some huge cash, and he has been given the tools to get the job completed.”
That is Arsenal’s time – Dixon
Dixon was shocked by Arsenal’s show in opposition to resurgent United however mentioned there have been certain to be ups and downs over the course of a season.
He added: “That’s the sloppiest I’ve seen Arsenal in a very long time.
“It was a disappointing efficiency. I believe they had been in management for the primary half an hour, however they weren’t creating something, which has been an issue of late.
“They simply regarded just a little bit off the tempo. They did look beneath strain when Manchester United began to come back again into the sport just a little bit and that mistake can tip you over the sting.
“I believe Mikel Arteta got here out, and he mentioned he was going to stay with the gamers, which he ought to do. Individuals let you know that you just don’t undergo a season and win a league and get all of it your individual method.
“That is Arsenal’s time simply now, and it’s how they react and the way they bounce again within the subsequent recreation.”
Schmeichel – Arsenal inexperience could possibly be a problem
Arsenal have developed a fame for being ‘nearly-men’ having completed as runners-up in every of the final three Premier League seasons and former United goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel believes holding their nerve could possibly be a problem.
The Dane mentioned: “The factor about successful and getting it over the road is about understanding that it isn’t all going to go your method each recreation. Manchester United and Arsenal had been neck and neck in 1999, and we ended up successful it by one level, and we had two attracts within the final 5 video games.
“I believe the inexperience of everybody at Arsenal of not successful the Premier League and having completed second for 3 years and being shut – that’s now coming again to them.
“That’s the strain. It’s not the strain from the skin, it’s extra internally and now’s the time. That’s one thing they should study, they usually should study it rapidly.”
Arsenal have already certified for the Champions League spherical of 16 and Arteta will make wholesale modifications for Wednesday’s residence recreation with Kairat Almaty. Their subsequent three league video games are in opposition to Leeds, Sunderland and Brentford earlier than the North London derby with Tottenham on February 22.
