Roy Keane has delivered a harsh critique of Arsenal following their 2-2 draw with Liverpool in the Premier League.
Arsenal led twice with goals from Bukayo Saka and Mikel Merino, only for Liverpool to equalize through Virgil van Dijk and a second-half strike from Mohamed Salah.
The draw drops Liverpool from the top of the table, while Arsenal now trail the new leaders, Manchester City, by five points in third place. However, Arsenal’s frustration with the result was evident, as Saka openly expressed in his post-match interview.
On Sky Sports, Manchester United legend Keane shared his view on Arsenal’s struggles, voicing concerns about their approach in the second half. He said, “I’m starting to worry about Arsenal’s mentality. They’re 2-1 up, and I’m thinking, ‘Go on and win the game.’ But time and again, they get in front and seem to just sit back—no excuses about injuries or going down to 10 men—they look like they’re settling for a narrow win or hoping for a set piece, instead of pushing for a third goal.”
He continued, “Liverpool were there for the taking. But it felt like Arsenal were just hoping to scrape a 2-1. Against top players like Salah, they’ll make you pay for that.”
Keane added, “Yes, there are positives, especially with players missing, but I’m watching their performances and the positions they get into. Today, they’re 2-1 up at home against a Liverpool side that didn’t seem at their best. Liverpool were calm, yet Arsenal didn’t capitalize on that. I keep questioning this Arsenal mentality—can they take the initiative when it matters?
“When you’re 2-1 up at home, with the crowd behind you, why not use that momentum? Instead, they were time-wasting, trying to see out the game. I get it, but where’s the belief, the conviction that they’re a top team capable of challenging Manchester City?”
Despite Arsenal’s clear progress, Keane argued they still lack the mindset to compete with City. “They’ve made strides, and it might seem harsh, but compared to Man City’s consistency and confidence, I’m not convinced Arsenal truly believe they can compete at the very top.”
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