Chelsea U18 v Manchester United U18: U18 Premier League Final - Source: Getty
Chelsea U18 v Manchester United U18: U18 Premier League Final - Source: Getty
Phil Jones was unimpressed with the performances of Arsenal duo Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba during Sunday’s Premier League clash against Manchester United. He branded the pair's display ‘weak’ and ‘fragile,’ saying it was the most ‘fractious’ he has ever seen them.
Arsenal were handed their first home defeat of the campaign, falling to a 3-2 defeat to United at the Emirates Stadium. The result reduced the Gunners’ lead at the summit from seven to four points.
Magalhaes and Saliba, both of whom have been the club's pillars in defense over the past few seasons, looked off the pace at some point during the game, with legendary manager Arsene Wenger insisting that the pair looked ‘nervous.’
Former United defender Jones was a guest on Sports Illustrated FC, assessing the game between Arsenal and Manchester United.
“I like Gabriel and Saliba, I think they have been top quality centre-halves but it was the most fragile I have ever seen them at the weekend,” he said. “I thought they looked nervous, I thought there was a lack of a relationship between the two. They sensed a fear in the stadium, that anxiety. They weren’t poor by any stretch, but they looked fragile and a bit weak at times, and it is the most fractious I have seen those two. You can sense that fear and desperation of wanting it so much, it is almost infectious. When United equalised it ran through the team.”
While the Gunners still hold the lead for the fewest goals conceded in the 2025/26 Premier League campaign, it was the first time since December 2023 that they had conceded goals in one game, ending an 83-match streak.
Jones names one Arsenal player who ‘didn’t really influence the game’ in Manchester United defeat
Jones pulled no punches while giving his assessment of Arsenal captain Marti Odegaard. The ex-Red Devils man claimed Odegaard struggled with the physical demands of the game, insisting that he saw the midfielder getting substituted.
“I thought for big periods in the game they struggled physically and it is not something you would associate with Arsenal,” Jones added. “Odegaard was overrun at times with United players in there and I could see the substitution coming. He didn’t really influence the game how he would have liked and struggled with the physical demands of the game.”
During his 58-minute outing, Odegaard failed to create a chance, complete a dribble, or register a shot on target.