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Arsenal news: Brutal Roy Keane rubbishes Gary Neville ‘disaster’ claim over Premier League title collapse

Roy Keane Sky Sports pundit

Gary Neville has suggested it would not be a “disaster” if Arsenal missed out on the Premier League title this season – but Roy Keane is having none of it.

Arsenal look like they are feeling the pressure at the moment in the Premier League title race. They have been top of the table for most of the season, even enjoying an eight-point lead over Manchester City not so long ago.

But Mikel Arteta’ side have drawn their most recent two league matches, giving away two-goal leads against Liverpool and West Ham. Now, Man City are just four points behind them with a game in hand – and a meeting between the two clubs is still due to take place.

Now, the tide may be turning for Man City to retain their title. Unless Arsenal can reverse their recent dip in form, they may have to settle for second place.

It would represent their return to Champions League football for the first time after Arsene Wenger left the club. However, there would be a huge sense of what might have been, after pursuing their first Premier League title since the invincible season of 2003-04.

According to Neville, though, there would be no reason to class a second-place finish for Arsenal as a disaster.

Neville told Sky Sports: “If you said Arsenal would be challenging for the title at the start of the season, they would snap your hand off wouldn’t they? Arsenal finishing second would still be an unbelievable season. They’ve gone from fifth. They’ve got young players. I’m not saying they won’t be disappointed and heartbroken by it.

“What’s happening now was always going to come. They were going to lose their nerve, lose their energy and make mistakes.

“That was a wobble today, but you’re always going to have a wobble on the way to your first title. When Blackburn beat us for the first title in 1995, they had lots of wobbles on the way and they got over the line. And they stumbled over – and they might get there Arsenal, if they go that way.

“It’s not a disaster. If I was Manchester City’s players and I didn’t win the league with Erling Haaland up front scoring 50-odd goals, with Jack Grealish and Riyad Mahrez as well – I think that would be a disaster.

“Last season, they (Arsenal) struggled to get over the line to finish in the top four. The same players are still there. It wouldn’t surprise me if they struggled to get over the line to win the title. And if they didn’t do it, I would almost half expect it. That was a huge setback – but Arsenal not finishing in the top four is not the same as Arsenal winning the league.”

Roy Keane rejects Neville claim – ‘not a great message’

However, Neville’s former Manchester United teammate Keane disagreed entirely.

Pointing to how Arsenal have lost their composure despite putting their full focus on the title race, Keane suggested something has been “playing tricks in their heads”.

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Keane said: “It wouldn’t be an unbelievable season. No chance. Second wouldn’t be a successful season. They’re out of all the cup competitions.

“The recruitment was good, they had a good start to the season. They were 2-0 up last week, they were 2-0 up again today, so these are huge moments.

“If they don’t go on to win the league it’s a huge disappointment. Arsenal have no distractions. They looked tired at the end [at West Ham], they were hanging in there against Liverpool last week. That’s not a great message to say they’re up for the fight and they’re enjoying it. It’s obviously playing tricks in their heads.

“In the last week or two, Arsenal have lacked composure, particularly when they’ve got into winning positions. They could still go on to win it because they’re in a fantastic position if they can just keep their heads and have a bit of composure, but the question was if they were to finish second, it’s a disappointment for Arsenal.

“Arsenal have made sacrifices by playing weaker teams in the cup competitions, so this has been their whole focus.”

Hasselbaink sides with Keane

With Neville and Keane torn on the issue, fellow pundit Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink offered the decisive verdict on why Arsenal being overtaken by Man City would indeed make their season a disaster.

The former Chelsea striker concluded: “They were seven points clear. It would be a disaster, you’ve been leading the whole way.

“To give it away in the last three matches, it’s a disaster. If doesn’t matter if you’re not thinking to be No. 1 at the beginning of the season, you’ve been No. 1 for the whole way!

“We don’t know what is going to happen next year, everyone is going to get stronger. They might not be in this position again. It’s not a terrible season – but they would have given it away!

“It’s there, it’s there to be grabbed. You can smell it and for them not to get it, it’s too hard. You still have to get to the finish line, it’s going to be difficult – but you get the job done.

“They have drawn a game in which they were winning 2-0. If they lose away at Newcastle – you would think ‘ok’.

“But they lost two points at West Ham – that will hurt more than losing at Manchester City away. You are not allowed to lose points at West Ham if you want to win the league.”

Arsenal have a chance to respond on Friday when they welcome Southampton to the Emirates Stadium. Then, there will be the crucial visit to Man City on April 26.

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