Patrick Vieira delivered a forthright assessment of Arsenal’s approach after their 3-2 Premier League defeat to Manchester United, voicing concern over what he perceived as a lack of ambition and attacking courage from Mikel Arteta’s side.
The loss, suffered at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, denied Arsenal the chance to strengthen their grip at the top of the table and instead raised fresh questions about their attacking balance in high-pressure moments.
Arsenal had entered the contest knowing victory would allow them to pull further clear in the title race. Their evening began positively when Lisandro Martinez turned the ball into his own net to hand the hosts an early advantage. However, that momentum was not sustained.
United gradually grew into the contest and turned the game on its head through goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu, exposing Arsenal’s vulnerability when forced to chase the match.
As they have done so often this season, the league leaders found a route back into the game from a set piece, levelling through another well-worked corner routine. Yet even at 2-2, Arsenal struggled to impose sustained pressure in open play.
That hesitation proved costly when Matheus Cunha produced a fine late finish to secure all three points for United, silencing the home crowd and dealing a significant blow to Arsenal’s momentum.
Vieira, who was born in Senegal, was visibly frustrated by what he felt was a cautious and predictable attacking display.
He said: “The feeling is that there’s no risk, there are too many passes going backwards, not forward. I want Arsenal to be more brave, take a little bit more risk.
“It feels tense. There’s not enough risk. I want Arsenal to be braver.”
