Gary Neville Criticizes Arsenal’s Defenders After Carabao Cup Exit
Arsenal’s hopes in the Carabao Cup came to a disappointing end following a 2-0 defeat to Newcastle United, which resulted in a 4-0 aggregate loss. This elimination was particularly disheartening given the Gunners’ dominant 5-1 win over Manchester City just days prior. However, they struggled to contain Newcastle’s attacking threat at St. James’ Park.
Much of the post-match discussion centered around Arsenal’s defensive pair, William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães, who have generally been reliable under Mikel Arteta but faltered in this encounter. Former Manchester United defender and current pundit Gary Neville was particularly critical, highlighting how Newcastle’s striker, Alexander Isak, exposed Arsenal’s weaknesses at the back.
Commenting on the game, Neville pointed out how Isak gave Arsenal’s defenders a torrid time. The Swedish forward played a key role in Newcastle’s opening goal, striking the post before Jacob Murphy converted the rebound.
“It’s all about Isak,” Neville remarked. “He is causing serious problems for Arsenal’s center-backs. Look at him against Saliba—Saliba initially believes he has the upper hand, but Isak easily turns him. He completely dominated both Saliba and Gabriel.”
Neville went on to express his surprise at Saliba’s struggles, noting that the usually composed defender appeared unsettled. “I’ve never seen Saliba so rattled before. Gordon and Isak are in his head,” he observed.
Jamie Redknapp, another pundit, echoed Neville’s sentiments, emphasizing Arsenal’s defensive difficulties. “I’ve never seen Gabriel and Saliba look so uncomfortable, and that’s down to Alexander Isak’s quality. They are usually dominant, but they simply couldn’t cope with Newcastle’s front three.”
Newcastle’s attacking trio—Isak, Murphy, and Anthony Gordon—continuously put Arsenal’s defense under pressure, forcing errors and capitalizing on them. Although Arsenal had moments of control, they failed to break down Newcastle’s disciplined defense.
With this victory, Newcastle booked their place in the Carabao Cup final with a convincing 4-0 aggregate win. They will now face either Tottenham or Liverpool as they aim to secure their first major trophy in decades. Manager Eddie Howe expressed confidence in his team’s progress since last season’s final defeat to Manchester United.
“We’ve made significant improvements since then,” Howe told BBC Radio 5 Live. “Playing in the Champions League has helped us grow, and we are now better equipped for big matches.”
Following this painful exit, Arsenal must regroup quickly. With crucial league and European fixtures ahead, they cannot afford to let this setback derail their ambitions for the season.
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