'A disease' - Gary Neville blasts Arsenal tactics during Liverpool defeat

Gary Neville was not impressed by Arsenal’s tactics (Picture: Getty)

Gary Neville was left confused by some of Arsenal ’s choices in possession as they fell to a 1-0 defeat against Liverpool at Anfield.

In a cagey encounter between the two Premier League title favourites, both sides struggled to create chances in open play.

And ultimately, it came down to a slice of brilliance from a set-piece, with Dominic Szoboszlai’s thunderous free-kick securing a hard-fought win for Arne Slot’s side.

Despite being early in the season, Arsenal have already been affected by injuries and were without Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz in the matchday squad, while Martin Odegaard was only fit enough for the bench.

And that lack of cutting-edge at the top of the pitch showed for the Gunners who were only able to muster one shot on target throughout the 90 minutes.

Neville, however, was flummoxed by Arsenal’s tactics on the ball and insisted their constant desire to play backwards was only inhibiting them from creating going forward.

‘Passing back has become a disease in the game,’ Neville said during his commentary for Sky Sports.

Arsenal struggled to create chances at Anfield on Sunday (Picture: Getty)

‘Honestly, if Declan Rice or any of them had it 50-60 yards up the pitch they wouldn’t pass it into Gyokeres’ feet at the edge of the box, but they’ll do it in their own box. It’s incredible! It’s like they’re programmed.’

Arteta, meanwhile, was also left lamenting his side’s lack of a clinical edge inside the Liverpool final third.

‘I am very disappointed with the result. I’m very proud of my players. Both [sets of] players had to dig in to a level where there was nothing between the two,’ he told Sky Sports post-match.

Mikel Arteta was left to rue his side’s lack of creativity (Picture: Getty)

‘It was going to be decided by an individual error or a moment of magic.

‘You cannot dominate here for 90 minutes, it is impossible. At the end of the game, I said we have to find a way to win these big matches.

‘You have to put the ball in the back of the net when you have it. We were much better than last year, much better. We have to put the ball in the back of the net if you want to win the game.’

And Jamie Carragher agreed with the Spaniard’s assessment, insisting that the Gunners have done little to arrest their alarming lack of creativity against the big teams.

‘Arsenal’s problem is creating. That was the problem for them last season: they don’t create enough,’ Carragher told Sky Sports.

‘You can look at the numbers; it’s all there in black and white.  From last season, Arsenal needed to shift slightly, become a bit more proactive with the ball.

‘Okay, you bring in Zubimendi, and you bring in Eze and Gyokeres up front. It’s only three games, but in the two away games we’ve seen Arsenal in this season, nothing has changed.

‘Heavily reliant on set pieces, don’t create anything in open play and the best team in Europe for me, defensively.’