Roy Keane is surprised at the lack of confidence Arsenal showed in defeat to Manchester United on Sunday, saying the Premier League leaders are suffering under pressure.
The Red Devils came away from the Emirates with a 3-2 win on a dramatic afternoon in north London which saw the game take huge swings in momentum.
The home team were vastly superior for half an hour at the start 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 stunning Patrick Dorgu strike early in 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 brilliant finish from distance to win the game for the visitors.
Keane felt Arsenal showed some mental fragility as they let a brilliant position of dominance slip, suggesting pressure is already getting 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 you know what that’s called? Pressure,’ Keane said on Sky Sports. ‘The pressure is on Arsenal today. They’ve seen the results and are in a great position. They’ve got everything going for them and are doing really well in all the competitions.
‘That’s pressure. They’re feeling the pressure. It’s how they deal with it over the next month or two.
‘That’s what has cost them over the last couple of years when they’ve got themselves in good positions. The signs now over the last few weeks…going back to the Liverpool game, the Forest game, and today losing that momentum.
‘If they look at it you have to have step back, reset and say “we’re still in a great position”. They have to find a way to get that momentum back and a bit of confidence.
‘I can’t believe they don’t have that confidence as a team with where they are in the league and what they’re doing in the other competitions. You’d be in the dressing room going “what’s up with everybody?”
‘Play the game, they’re obviously playing the occasion…They’ve got to back to basics and start embracing this challenge rather than being frightened by it.’
The defeat means Arsenal are winless in three Premier League games, after draws against Liverpool and Nottingham Forest.
However, they remain four points clear at the top of the table and in a very good position.
As for Manchester United, they climb to fourth thanks to back-to-back victories under Carrick over Manchester City and Arsenal.
Keane, though, is still going to take some convincing that the interim boss is the right man for the job on a permanent 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 end of the season. Even if they do get into fourth I’d still wouldn’t be convinced he’s the man for the job, absolutely not.
‘I still think they need a bigger and better manager. But he’s got the opportunity, what a chance it is for him and do you know what? He’s taken it. So fair play to him.’
