Arsenal suffered their first home loss of the season, [falling 3-2 to Manchester United](https://footballtoday.com/2026/01/25/arsenal-2-3-man-unitedcunhas-strike-ends-arsenal-unbeaten-home-run-sends-man-united-to-fourth/) in the Premier League on Sunday evening.
The Gunners have now failed to win any of their last three league games, but are four points clear of closest challengers Manchester City and Aston Villa.
Former Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira has singled out Bukayo Saka for criticism for his role in the defeat.
He told Sky Sports via [the BBC](https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/live/cr7jlmdg323t?post=asset%3A4b017f81-4c56-4d58-aeac-6db4a2f6f6f6#post): “Arsenal need to go back to the basics. They need to play with freedom and express the basics to go forward.
“Some of the players need to perform their best because some of them didn’t perform today. Saka was too quiet, in big games like this you expect him to take the team and perform but he didn’t.”
Despite Vieira’s criticism, Saka was one of Arsenal’s most outstanding players in the game, particularly in the first half, when he was involved in most of their attacking play.
He attempted five dribbles and completed three of them, the most of any Arsenal player in both metrics. Only Declan Rice registered more key passes (four) than him (three).
However, the England international still has room for improvement against the league’s biggest sides if he is to reach the very top level.
Across 65 games against the Premier League ‘big six’, Saka has registered 29 goal involvements. He has just one against them this term — an assist in the 1-1 draw at Chelsea.
_Stats from transfermarkt.com & sofascore.com_