Roy Keane on Arsenal
Image credit: Getty Images
Arsenal began their Premier League campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford, but club legend Roy Keane has questioned the performance of several key players despite the result.
The Gunners secured all three points through Riccardo Calafiori’s 13th-minute header, after Declan Rice’s inswinging corner caused chaos in the United box. Goalkeeper Altay Bayindir failed to deal with the delivery under pressure from William Saliba, allowing Calafiori to nod home from close range.
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United piled on the pressure for much of the match, but Arsenal’s back line held firm to secure an opening-day win and underline their title ambitions. However, Keane, speaking onSky Sports, claimed the performance was far from convincing and singled out captain Martin Odegaard for criticism.
Martin Odegaard
Martin Odegaard (Image credit: Getty Images)
“This was an Arsenal team where four or five of their players didn’t turn up,” the former United midfielder said. “Rice did well but I thought Odegaard was shocking, Saka didn’t do too much, and the players off the bench didn’t really impact the game. It was a poor performance overall.”
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Despite his concerns, Keane acknowledged that winning while underperforming is often a hallmark of elite sides. “The sign of a really good team is when you’re not at your best and still win football matches,” he added.
“But when you’re competing with the likes of Liverpool and Man City, you need to go for that second or third goal. Arsenal looked content to hold onto their lead and that’s risky. Last season it cost them with too many draws. That won’t win you league titles.”
Mikel Arteta will be pleased with the resilience of his side but may take note of Keane’s warning as Arsenal prepare for what promises to be another intense title race.
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