Arsenal's physical and mental strength has been questioned by a former Manchester United star
Mark Whiley Sports Reporter
11:13, 27 Jan 2026
Martin Odegaard of Arsenal reacts after conceding during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Manchester United at Emirates Stadium
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Several Arsenal players have come under fire following the 3-2 defeat to Manchester United(Image: Offside via Getty Images)
Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba have been branded "weak" and "fragile" in the wake of Arsenal's damaging defeat to Manchester United.
The brutal assessment has come from former United centre-back Phil Jones, who pulled no punches in his assessment of Sunday's game at the Emirates Stadium. The 3-2 defeat was the Gunners' third winless game in a row in the league and meant their lead at the top is down to four points after a weekend in which Manchester City and Aston Villa both won.
Gabriel and Saliba have been linchpins of the Gunners' defence in recent seasons, but Jones was surprised by what he saw as "lack of a relationship between the two." He reckons they were affected by the anxiety that he believes gripped the home fans.
Jones told the Sports Illustrated FC podcast: "I Iike 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.
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"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. 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."
William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes
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William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes have been questioned following the defeat to Man United(Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Jones felt the Arsenal team in general fell short physically, especially in midfield. Mikel Arteta presumably agreed, given he made four changes just before the hour mark, including replacing captain Martin Odegaard and fellow midfielder Martin Zubimendi, whose error had gifted United their first-half equaliser.
Jones added: "I thought for big periods in the game they struggled physically and it is not something you would associate with Arsenal.
"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."
Martin Odegaard
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Martin Odegaard has been called out by Phil Jones(Image: Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)
Meanwhile, Gunners legend Patrick Vieira, speaking on Sky Sports, said there are "questions about the mental strength of the team."
Asked for his response, Arteta said: "That's fine. We accept every opinion, where it's coming from. They have the right reason to say it. At the end, we have to show the mental strength that we have on the pitch when it comes to a match day."
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With pressure cranking up, the Gunners complete their Champions League league phase campaign at home against Kairat Almaty before returning to Premier League action with a tough trip to in-form Leeds on Saturday.
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