Manchester United v Leeds United - Premier League
Gary Neville was less than impressed by Gabriel’s defending as Arsenal went behind to Manchester City (Picture: Getty)
Gary Neville pointed the finger at Gabriel Magalhaes after Rayan Cherki’s goal in Manchester City’s top-of-the-table clash with Arsenal, criticising the defender for failing to ‘get up to the ball quicker’ in the build-up.
Arsenal held their own in the opening exchanges at the Etihad, showing they were up for the fight after a worrying dip in form in recent matches.
But the Premier League leaders went behind to a piece of brilliance from Cherki, who latched onto a loose ball following Piero Hincapie’s clearing header before wreaking havoc inside the Arsenal penalty area.
Gabriel was punished after sitting off Cherki on the edge of the box, with the Frenchman driving forward with pace before twisting the Arsenal centre-back inside-out and beating David Raya with a composed finish.
There was more drama just two minutes later at the other of the pitch, though, as the visitors hit back immediately through the returning Kai Havertz to make it all square.
The home crowd was stunned into silence as Gianluigi Donnarumma clumsily dallied in possession and cleared straight into Havertz, who directed the ball home to set up an intriguing end to the first half.
Analysing Cherki’s early breakthrough on Sky Sports’ commentary of this afternoon’s potential title decider, Neville was less than impressed by Gabriel’s questionable defending.
Manchester City v Arsenal - Premier League
Cherki struck with an individual piece of brilliance in the 16th minute (Picture: Getty)
Manchester City v Arsenal - Premier League
Gabriel drew the ire of Neville on Sky Sports’ commentary (Picture: Getty)
‘You talk about big players turning up in big moments… Cherki, I called him last week ‘the ambassador of confidence’ for Manchester City. He’s the ambassador of brilliance,’ the former Manchester United and England right-back said.
‘Arsenal are shellshocked by a moment of pure class. City just win the second ball and I thought Gabriel should have got up quicker, I thought he should have got up to the ball quicker.
‘As soon as he doesn’t, he’s back in his own box and it’s almost like a fielder on the edge of the boundary in cricket, the way in which Gabriel tries to tackle him. That’s not going to be enough.
‘The touch, the little skip, the balance and then the right-foot finish. That is as good as you will see, it is beautiful from Rayan Cherki.’
FBL-ENG-PR-MAN CITY-ARSENAL
Havertz levelled just moments later at the Etihad (Picture: Getty)
Watching back City’s opener in the Sky Sports studio at the half-time break, Roy Keane chose to focus on the Cherki’s ‘brilliance’ rather than Arsenal’s lacklustre defending.
‘It’s brilliant. Brilliant player, very unpredictable,’ the former Manchester United captain said.
‘City had an element of control early in the game, Arsenal are getting bodies back, but you know what City are like, they rotate the ball, movement, switches of play…
‘You talk about someone producing brilliance and what he is, he is unpredictable, and that’s very hard to stop.
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City trailed Arsenal by six points in the table ahead of kick-off (Picture: Getty)
‘When he gets it you think there’s no danger, Arsenal have got players back but the quickness of the feet and then the finish… my goodness.
‘He’s very difficult to stop, obviously, because he’s putting you on the back foot. The top players decide where they’re going to go.
‘You think Arsenal have got defenders back and top defenders, really good defenders, Arsenal’s defensively are outstanding. But he’s dictating where he’s going.
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‘Arsenal will be critical of themselves but from an attacking perspective, look at the feet, the quickness and then knowing where the goal is to slot it in the corner… it’s a moment of brilliance and then not long after, a moment of madness.’
Analysing Donnarumma’s costly lapse in concentration at the other end of the pitch, Neville praised Havertz for showcasing the ‘perseverance’ to get his side back level.
‘This is what we wanted,’ the ex-England defender explained.
‘Cherki’s brilliance is cancelled out by perseverance.
‘I was talking about a moment of madness at the other end from David Raya but Donnarumma… the touch, the delay and Kai Havertz, he’s pressed him into the back of his own net.
‘Arsenal have just answered a big question.’
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