Gary Neville highlights how Arsenal’s inexperienced squad struggles to keep up with the pressure

Arsenal recently lost 2-0 against Newcastle United in the Premier League jeopardizing their top-four chances. The Magpies took the lead through a Ben White own goal followed by an 85th-minute goal scored by Newcastle star midfielder Bruno Guimaraes.

The Gunners’ defeat meant that they had to stay in fifth position after they lost against Tottenham in the North London derby in their previous game. Spurs were two points ahead and Arsenal had the opportunity to pose a threat to their arch-rivals for Champions League spots. But their defeat to Newcastle United means that a win for Tottenham will more or less seal the position in Europe’s elite continental competition.

The Gunners struggled to find the confidence that they needed to win against Newcastle. Their 3-0 defeat against Tottenham was still going on in the minds of some players as they faced Newcastle United. Mikel Arteta’s men lacked the fight that was needed in this game to bag all three points.

Gary Neville shared how the body language of the Arsenal players were very down and therefore the result was predictable. “Those Arsenal players body language at the end tells you it’s more than just a defeat,” Neville said. “It’s a big one for them and I gave them the benefit of the doubt at half-time because I felt the only was they would win this game was through a grind,” added the Manchester United legend.

Neville shared how Arsenal have a very young and inexperienced squad and the biggest downside of having a squad of that kind is the players are not used to delivering under pressure matches. The former defender felt that despite everything he trusted the Gunners to reach the top four. “They were brutalised by that Tottenham fanbase for 60 minutes and that’s a young team that doesn’t have that experience and character. I never fully trusted them to get into the top four to be honest,” Neville added.

“I thought they would come out second-half and respond from a poor first-half and go and get that victory tonight – but they showed us nothing and it tells us where they are at,” the former Manchester United legend continued. But unfortunately, Arsenal struggled throughout the game and lost the match 2-0 against Newcastle putting their top-four hopes in danger. Arsenal’s fate now depends on Spurs as they will face Norwich in their last match of the season. A win for the Lillywhites will end Gunners’ hopes of Champion’s League football. So now Mikel Arteta’s men are hoping against hope for a miracle in the last matchday.