Roy Keane is surprised at the shortage of confidence Arsenal showed in defeat to Manchester United on Sunday, saying the Premier League leaders are suffering under pressure.
The Red Devils got here away from the Emirates with a 3-2 win on a dramatic afternoon in north London which saw the sport take huge swings in momentum.
The house team were vastly superior for half an hour initially of the match and went 1-0 up through a Lisandro Martinez own goal.
Michael Carrick’s side responded impressively, though, equalising through Bryan Mbeumo before the break and going ahead through a shocking Patrick Dorgu strike early within the second half.
The Gunners looked blunt but eventually forced their way level again, with Mikel Merino poking home from a corner, but again the Red Devils responded.
With 87 minutes on the clock, Matheus Cunha produced a superb finish from distance to win the sport for the visitors.
Keane felt Arsenal showed some mental fragility as they let a superb position of dominance slip, suggesting pressure is already attending to them.
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The Irishman is surprised that a team top of the Premier League and Champions League tables is seemingly lacking some confidence.
‘Do what that’s called? Pressure,’ Keane said on Sky Sports. ‘The pressure is on Arsenal today. They’ve seen the outcomes and are in an awesome position. They’ve got all the pieces going for them and are doing rather well in all of the competitions.
‘That’s pressure. They’re feeling the pressure. It’s how they cope with it over the following month or two.
‘That’s what has cost them during the last couple of years after they’ve got themselves in good positions. The signs now over the previous couple of weeks…going back to the Liverpool game, the Forest game, and today losing that momentum.
‘If they appear at it you’ve to have step back, reset and say “we’re still in an awesome position”. They’ve to search out a approach to get that momentum back and a little bit of confidence.
‘I can’t imagine they don’t have that confidence as a team with where they’re within the league and what they’re doing in the opposite competitions. You’d be within the dressing room going “what’s up with everybody?”
‘Play the sport, they’re obviously playing the occasion…They’ve got to back to basics and begin embracing this challenge somewhat than being frightened by it.’
The defeat means Arsenal are winless in three Premier League games, after draws against Liverpool and Nottingham Forest.
Nonetheless, they continue to be 4 points clear at the highest of the table and in a excellent position.
As for Manchester United, they climb to fourth due to back-to-back victories under Carrick over Manchester City and Arsenal.
Keane, though, continues to be going to take some convincing that the interim boss is the fitting man for the job on a everlasting basis.
‘No, you’re being silly now. Two great performances, but anybody can win two games,’ said Keane.
‘It’s what he does till the top of the season. Even in the event that they do get into fourth I’d still wouldn’t be convinced he’s the person for the job, absolutely not.
‘I still think they need an even bigger and higher manager. But he’s got the chance, what a probability it’s for him and do what? He’s taken it. So fair play to him.’
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