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Sky Sports pundit Roy Keane has warned Arsenal about two of their defenders following Sunday’s win over Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium.
THE LOWDOWN: IMPERFECT ARSENAL
The Gunners may have been impressive this season across all board but some individual mistakes and decision-making in crucial moments has cost them some goals, a few of which have been given away cheaply.
Against Liverpool on Sunday, William Saliba almost scored an own goal but it took the intervention of Aaron Ramsdale to spare his blushes. On numerous occasions, the defenders were out of position and Liverpool could have profited.
Also, it was a mistake from Gabriel Magalhaes which led to the second goal conceded against the Reds. Arsenal won in the end but these imperfections show that there is still room for improvement.
These defensive wobbles have seen a Premier League legend sound a warning to Mikel Arteta’s side regarding some players who have ‘mistakes’ in them.
THE LATEST: KEANE’S WARNING
Keane stated on Sky Sports [via TEAMtalk] that Arsenal centre-backs Saliba and Gabriel have mistakes in them, although he has been generally impressed by the two defenders so far this season.
The Irishman believes that both Saliba and Gabriel have the right physical presence to play in the defence, but the pundit argued that they are prone to errors.
He said of the Arsenal defensive duo: “They have got physicality now in the team. Even the two centre-halves, I know they have got mistakes in them, but they have got the physical presence.”
THE VERDICT: SOME TRUTH
Keane is right about the Arsenal defenders. Saliba nearly put through his own net on Sunday and did score an own goal against Leicester City earlier in the season. As for Gabriel, he nearly caused a penalty against Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium and was lucky that the decision went his way.
Gabriel is 24 and Saliba is 21, so it is natural that they will make mistakes from time to time. They are young and still learning some facets of the English game, and this is their first season together at the heart of Arsenal’s defence.
With time, they can become a formidable partnership if they learn from some of the lapses mentioned above.
