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  • Sports - Football - All Teams
  • Updated: June 25, 2020

Southampton vs Arsenal: Gary Neville Pinpoints The Kind Of Defenders EPL Strugglers Need

Southampton vs Arsenal: Gary Neville Pinpoints The Kind Of D

 

Ahead of Arsenal's English Premier League (EPL) match versus Southampton at St Mary's Stadium on Thursday evening, former England defender, Gary Neville says the Gunners "need defenders with better concentration".

AllNews reports that the London club have shipped five goals in two matches since the resumption of the Premier League this month.

The likes of David Luiz, Shkodran Mustafi, Sead Kolašinac and Rob Holding have all been found wanting in recent games, much to the disgust of Arsenal faithful.

Neville, a Manchester United legend feels Arsenal defence cannot be trusted.

"You just can't trust Arsenal, you haven't been able to for years," he told the Gary Neville Podcast.

"We've all said it. Mikel Arteta - we should still say that the shape Arsenal are playing, the shape they have defensively I think is better than it was previously but the individuals within that will let you down.

"It doesn't matter how well you coach the shape if you get exposed one on one or defenders make mistakes - as we saw in that game against Manchester City and against Brighton - then you're just going to get punished.

"They just need defenders with better concentration. Jamie (Carragher) mentioned about Dejan Lovren being emotional.

"Sir Alex Ferguson - there were elements of me that were emotional sometimes as a player and he would knock it right out of me. He said I hate emotional defenders. He wants his defenders to be ice cold.

"You are going to make mistakes as a goalkeeper and a defender, but then it's that second mistake," he added.

"It's that one where you try and win it back and you give that penalty away. It's where you try and win it and you can't win it.

"It's about just dropping your ego sometimes as a defender and delaying helps because your team-mates sometimes come back. You get too many defenders who try to win the first ball, who try and dive in, and we've seen that with Arsenal's defenders over the years.

"David Luiz, Shkodran Mustafi and Sokratis Papastathopoulos, when he plays. They dive in, they like to challenge when it is not there to challenge.

"They feel they have to win the ball and sometimes it's not there to win."

READ ALSO: EPL: 'No Need To Go Anywhere' - Ndidi On Arsenal, Manchester United Interest

The Emirates club are currently placed 11th on the EPL table, 11 points off fourth-placed Chelsea.

Watch how Arsenal lost their last EPL match

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