Arsenal players ripped apart by Gary Neville: 'I'd honestly stick them all up on the transfer list... it's disgraceful'

By Ben Church For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

Former Manchester United captain Gary Neville has torn into the Arsenal team following their capitulation at Anfield.

The Gunners were thrashed 4-0 by Liverpool on Sunday, with Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Daniel Sturridge ensuring an emphatic Reds' victory.

Speaking just before the half-time whistle, when Arsenal were already 2-0 down, Neville said: 'I'd honestly stick them all up on the transfer list. There aren't many of them that would get a better club than where they are at.' 

Arsenal's players were ripped apart by Gary Neville as he commentated on the match

Arsenal's players were ripped apart by Gary Neville as he commentated on the match

Neville, the ex-Manchester United captain, slammed the Arsenal players for their performance

Neville, the ex-Manchester United captain, slammed the Arsenal players for their performance

Neville, not exactly known as Liverpool's biggest fan, said that this Arsenal side deserved to be beaten. 


After Mane scored Liverpool's second, Neville let fire. 'It's a well told story that I'm not a Liverpool fan but this Arsenal team deserve a battering. They really do,' said Neville. 

'Liverpool are brilliant going forward but how can you play like this in a big game for so many of Arsenal's players? Forget not turning up, forget not playing well but just the general attitude or lack of respect for the shirt from three or four of them in not running back and not bothering is disgraceful.'

Arsenal had hoped this season would be more successful than last year but after this performance and their defeat by Stoke last weekend, the early signs do not look good.

Fellow pundit and Arsenal legend Thierry Henry (centre) was saddened but not surprised

Fellow pundit and Arsenal legend Thierry Henry (centre) was saddened but not surprised

Arsene Wenger watched his side fall flat against a far superior Liverpool side on Sunday 

Arsene Wenger watched his side fall flat against a far superior Liverpool side on Sunday 

'It's a great club. I came here quite composed today and I'm actually fuming and angry and I don't know how they [the travelling Arsenal supporters] feel. He [Arsene Wenger] must be livid,' said Neville. 

Neville was not alone with his criticism. Fellow Sky Sports pundit and Arsenal legend Thierry Henry was saddened but not surprised. 

The former Gunners striker said: 'I was expecting this. Stagnation. I knew what was going to happen today. 

'But still when you see it you're like no, not happening again. But I'm not that shocked.

'I think Ramsey is a 10 like he plays for Wales. You have to give Liverpool credit. What a finish from Mane but there's too many simple mistakes from Arsenal that shouldn't be happening.'

Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez started the match but was substituted shortly into the second half 

Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez started the match but was substituted shortly into the second half 

Mohamed Salah was allowed to run free from his own half as he scored Liverpool's third goal

Mohamed Salah was allowed to run free from his own half as he scored Liverpool's third goal

Jamie Carragher, sitting alongside Henry in the Sky Sports studio, was less reserved as he tore into the squad, calling them 'cowards'. 

Pundit Graeme Souness saved his criticism specifically for the Arsenal midfield and Wenger 

'I played in central midfield. My job was to defend the two centre backs. Arsenal need proper disciplined central midfielders. How difficult is to put that right. Roy Keane, [Nemanja] Matic, [N'Golo] Kante all did it. Arsenal are like a bunch of school boys.

'That first goal beggars belief. You just don't know what messages they're getting told.

'It's the sort of performance which gets the manager sacked,' fired Souness.   

Arsenal fans were left frustrated by their side's lacklustre performance against Liverpool  

Arsenal fans were left frustrated by their side's lacklustre performance against Liverpool  

WHAT THE TV EXPERTS SAID ABOUT THE ARSENAL SHAMBLES AT ANFIELD

GARY NEVILLE 

'No respect for the shirt'

'It's a well-told story that I'm not a Liverpool fan but this Arsenal team deserve a battering.

Liverpool are brilliant going forward but how can you play like this in a big game for so many of Arsenal's players? Forget not turning up, forget not playing well but just the general attitude or lack of respect for the shirt from three or four of them in not running back and not bothering is disgraceful.

It's a great club… I came here quite composed today and I'm actually fuming and angry and I don't know how they (the travelling Arsenal supporters) feel.

The positives are there's six days left in the transfer window so he can try and get rid of as many of these as he can. I'd honestly stick them all up on the transfer list. There aren't many of them that would get a better club than where they are at.

Arsenal have players who don't (run back) and that's disgraceful. Players are walking, ambling and not showing any urgency and it's not good enough.

I'm sat up here in the gantry about an hour ago before kick-off and see West Brom sprint back and get in that shape and then we take for granted that teams of this ilk do that. A great team like Atletico Madrid do but an average Arsenal don't.'

 

JAMIE CARRAGHER

'Only word is cowards'

After the first goal: 'That's Aaron Ramsey not even looking at the ball.

Arsenal lose the ball through Xhaka and there you've got it.

Look at the space between the two midfield players, away from home, big game, Ramsey not even watching the ball — talk about a lack of discipline. Still not watching the ball, completely out of the game! This Arsenal midfield has been nothing short of embarrassing early on.

With a back three you'd expect an Arsenal defender to put his head on it but no, the same old problems.

Back four, back three, no one in there to attack the ball.

This midfield for Arsenal are absolutely shocking.'

After the game: 'It is like watching the same movie. The board bottled it in the summer, they bottled it.

Terrified of moving the manager on, who has been a legend there. There had to be a change of manager.

Last season I called them 'cowards' (at Crystal Palace) and got a little bit of stick for it, people said you can't say that on TV. I'll say it again: 'Cowards!' That was worse.'

 

GRAEME SOUNESS

'What a bunch of schoolboys' 

'I've officially given up on them. There was always something about Arsenal I liked. Unless they were playing against Tottenham or Liverpool, I always looked forward to watching them and hoping they'd do well.

Ozil and Sanchez were a disgrace today.

I played in central midfield. My job was to defend the two centre backs. Arsenal need proper disciplined central midfielders. How difficult is it to put that right? Roy Keane, Matic, Kante all did it. Arsenal are like a bunch of schoolboys. That first goal beggars belief.

You're watching them, 'show me something, show me you have turned the corner'. But they have taken one giant step back. That is a performance that can get the manager the sack. For professional players to be able to accept that level of performance is beyond belief.'

 

THIERRY HENRY

'I wanted to walk out'

'I wanted to leave (the stadium). I don't relate with this team.

I am not surprised. I was expecting this. Stagnation.

I knew what was going to happen today. But still when you see it you're like, no, not again! The way Arsenal lose the game is the problem. We are talking about desire, commitment. Have a go. The team I arrived into could fight. These guys? It is painful. As a fan, you try to be positive, but it's not nice to see.

Everything that you see on the day has been happening for the past 10 years.

We talk about Sanchez and is he staying, but they are not going to want to be part of this team. That is why players are not renewing their contracts, they can see something is wrong.

The word I have used for a long time — comfort. Everyone is comfortable at Arsenal. It's not the same pressure you have at a big club, that you should have. Everything is… nice. It cannot be like that.'

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