Two wonder strikes fire Man Utd to huge win in five-goal thriller at Emirates

21:13There was a must-win game for them because it was important to send the message to say that we want to win and our performance show and send the message to the rest of the teams in the league. Who didn't perform, Patrick, do you think? I think Saka was too quiet. I think he's one of the, if not the best offensive players. And big games like that, you expect him to take the team and to perform. Troussard is an important player as well, but he didn't perform. At Font, I think Rezus run a lot, spend a lot of energy. But you want him to be more focused and to be more inside the box. In the midfield, I think the only one was Declan Rice.

21:58You can see that he's winning balls, winning the 1v1. He brings a lot of energy. But there were too many players who played below their level. And when he's against United, it became really difficult to get the result. Can I share one about Odegaard?

22:16Patrick Vieira:I love him as a player. I love watching him. I love his touch, his technique, all those things. but sometimes he comes and gets the ball on the opposite side of the line so instead of this side in the pocket between the lines, defensive and midfield he's dropping a little bit too deep, playing a little bit safe. Is that fair? I think it's fair. I think Odegaard is one of the technical leaders of the team because of his technical ability and his vision and the quality of the last pass. I would like to see him a little bit more higher, to play more in between the lines and to receive the ball more in between the lines and to try to make his first touch going forward.

22:52I think at time he play a little bit too safe. He's coming too close to the back four. And I think you need those kind of creativity more higher on the pitch and to be more between the opposite line.

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23:43What a day for Manchester United winning here at the Emirates in the league for the first time since 2017 Nassandro Martinez straight into the United fans that's actually his dad we're told who is there amongst the travelling United support and what an emotional moment for him as well who spent so much of the season or so much of his time at Manchester United in the treatment room but he has enjoyed the last couple of weeks. That is for sure. Here to later clock tonight with Roy, with Patrick and with Micah as well. Gary Neville may decide to join us as well. Be surprised if he doesn't on a day like today, Micah.

24:17Interesting. Let's get into the analysis, which actually started with Lissandra Martinez contributing to Arsenal's first goal. Micah, take us through this. What does he get wrong here?

24:26Patrick Vieira:Yeah, I think he focuses too much on the player timber there rather than the ball. when the ball comes in, it just reacts a little bit too late. You see here on a better angle here. Now he's trying to get up and he's just fighting in the box, not concentrating and he can't adjust his feet at the right moment. But nevertheless, it was a good move. Timber in forward positions and then I thought I came off Timber, but it's gone down as an on-goal. I'm sure Timber will want it. But yeah, at this stage, Arsenal, I thought, was in control and then Man United came into the game. The recruitment policy this summer for Manchester United was all about adding firepower.

25:03So when these situations do arise, you've got someone to... Exactly. That's why they brought him to the club. Obviously, also experienced players in the Premiership. Goal scoring last year for United was a huge, huge problem. A lot better this year. And obviously poor for Maricent. Leaving there at a pace of pass, decision-making at this level. But you've still got to finish it. He's cool. He's calm. Beautiful. And gets United back into the game. It gives them a big lift as well, not long before I have time. It's a real mess from Arsenal's perspective, isn't it, Patrick? It's a real mess from Arsenal's perspective.

25:33It is a real mess for Arsenal. I think losing the ball in the last 30 yards, it's really difficult, especially in front of those quality players. One mistake, you consider goals straight away. So they were quite really exposed in possession. And then when they lose the ball, it's a 1-1 against the goalkeeper on that side. And Boone did really well. It was pretty quiet the first half, and then it just burst to life, Roy. Brilliant. This is what a brilliant call this is. Fantastic player from Bruno D 'Arco. And his quality has really improved over the last few months. And his first touch is brilliant there.

26:04Look at Arsenal again, not really getting aggressive, but brilliant player. Lovely from Bruno. And this finish... Oh, what a goal. Absolutely fantastic.

26:12Patrick Vieira:But look at the bravery there for him to get the ball. A half-turn and then the one-two-touch and then it goes full of confidence. And what a finish that was. Brilliant from him, who's really come to life, hasn't he, in recent weeks for Manchester United. his fifth goal involvement in the last six games, just won in his first 27 for Manchester United. The question, though, was on the handball, wasn't it? Because that was the big debate. You had the BAR intervention on this, giving us a goal on field. And the question was, did he handball it at all? It doesn't matter whether it was deliberate or accidental, if the goal scorer handballs that it's chalked off.

26:45No. That angle? No, he can't.

26:47Patrick Vieira:That angle, it doesn't look like he handballed. I think it's the next angle where it looks like he's handballed it. You don't want to see them giving away from a strike like that, but I think this is the angle here It just looks like it touches his arm on that angle there But based on the two angles, one that looks like it does and one that perhaps looks like it doesn't I mean, it's a difficult one, isn't it? Because if it's not conclusive, then we're not going to overturn it I'm not sure what he thinks, I think he thinks he's a handball, does he? I think he made it Did you think it was, Patrick?

27:21No, I don't think it's a handball. If it's not obvious, it's really difficult to give it. So you have to give a credit as well, I think, to the manager because Doku in Italy was playing as a left-back. And then in the changing of system, he's coming as a winger. And the winger was playing a little bit more inside. And like Micah said, I think his first touch was quite really interesting because that allowed him to be in front of the goal. And this performance is getting much better since the beginning of the season. have grown in confidence and belief and shown real quality. And the fans are appreciating it as well.

27:54They voted in the Manchester United Man of the Match on the finalist's app. Harry Maguire voted Man of the Match here in the stadium. So then it was, what could Arsenal do to respond? They made the quadruple change just before the hour mark. Perhaps no surprise at the source of the goal, Patrick? Yeah, I think the manager decided to make four changes because he wanted to bring more energy to the team. and of course when there's a corner or there's a set pieces this is where they are quite really strong and they managed to score the goal with the confusion situation the goalkeeper tried to come out but he's a bit too short and so many players are on the ball and they managed to score that goal and this is Arsenal's strength and that allowed them to come back to the game.

28:42What do you say about, we're moving on swiftly here, we'll perhaps come back to what I was going to say but this is two minutes 58 from that goal to this one and this stunned the stadium Roy unbelievable what a brilliant goal again Bruno Mane are doing really well tight little area Cunha here the power and the accuracy in this strike and you know what I call that goal like in my United goal this is what you want to see from United players United United's a great club because they're attacking players and creating goals and scoring goals and this to win the game and what I liked about United's players when they conceded the second one there was real calmness to them.

29:17I'm always watching body language. They kept their cool, they kept calm and they showed their quality. That goal there was, I'd watched it all night, absolutely fantastic. Brilliant goal. I think it is a really brilliant goal, but Cunha, when he get the ball on his feet and he get the ball and he managed to turn and to run in front of the goal, I think in the defensive side you can be a little bit disappointed of the back four, the two central back of Arsenal, not to be a little bit more closer to Laudan, to to turn and to face them. They must know where the threat is with this guy, who's done this so many times for Wolves last season.

29:50But in a situation like that, I don't think he should manage here to get the ball on turn. I think a player should be a little bit more... It's like the second goal to him, to be a little bit more aggressive. Yeah, if you look at the second goal, it's the same with the Arsenal midfielders, just a second off it. Well, that's exactly it. Just off it, the same with the second goal, and for this one. And that's the beauty of this level, this little split-second decisions. But this strike against a very good goalkeeper, But Arsenal can concede, man, to concede three goals today. That will be a setback to them.

30:27Hello, I'm Nikita Potos. And I'm Jordan Loves. And you can hear these two Lionesses legends every week on Pitch to Pod from Sky Sports, where they bring your topics straight from the pitch to their podcast. We talk everything football, WSL and beyond. So what are you waiting for? Search for Pitch to Pod with Jordan and Nikita wherever you listen to your podcast and give us a follow so you don't miss us at all. That's Pitch to Pod with Jordan and Nikita from Sky Sports. This is the Sky Sports Premier League podcast. Let's get more analysis of the game and return to the student. Before today, Arsenal had scored first 24 times this season and they'd won 24 times.

31:13They scored first again today. But as you can see on the faces of those Arsenal fans, it wasn't the result they had so desperately wanted. Their lead is cut to four points. Here's Mikel Arteta with Patrick Davison. Mikel, firstly, what are your emotions after that?

31:32Mikel Arteta:Well, first of all, we have to congratulate Man United for the victory. It happened in a really strange way, to be fair, because we were very dominant in the first half an hour, scored the goal, had another two brilliant chances to score. And then we gave them the goal, which is very unusual from our side. And that changed and shifted the momentum and the energy a little bit. After that, we dropped the standard, especially with things that we have to do much better with the ball and the game wasn't in that much control. And then they had two magic moments. I mean, the two goals that they scored from Dorku and Cunha, credit to them, because in big games you need those moments.

32:09Mikel Arteta:And we were carrying a little bit of that negativity, a little bit, and the lack of fluidity that we needed. But we made the changes, we created some momentum, scored the choo-choo, and you could feel game on. Everything changed immediately. The next action on is one against one in the six-yard box. We expect, okay, something we're going to get from there. It goes to a goal kick, they closed the structure, one long ball, one pass and Cunha scores and changes again the momentum and the shifts of the world. So a really painful one, but it's now time to be very, very close to those players that are giving us so much joy, performances, and it's time to be very, very close to them and support them because we all want to win.

32:51So from 1-0, and as you say, control of the match, I don't think anyone would dispute that. Can you tell us in what areas the standards dropped?

32:59Mikel Arteta:Well, especially with the ball, with simple things, every time we regain the ball, what we did with that ball after regaining it, certain clearances that stretch us on the pitch and it's a team that the moment they have space and the ball lands especially to certain players, they are very dangerous and we knew that. So yeah, we have to learn from it, defeats are part of winning and you have to take them like this because they need to be reminded how good they are. is that almost your message to the supporters as much as anything? The players need you now. I don't have to do that because they know.

33:36Mikel Arteta:We need them in any moment when we don't win. After it's easy but when we draw or when we don't win or lose our game that's the moment that we have to show really the togetherness the unity the energy that we're going to put it to get where we want and the feeds are part of that for us and for any team. Do you think from 1-0 it got tentative, it got nervous. Do you think, was it the weight of what you're trying to achieve that affected maybe the atmosphere and certainly the performance? I wouldn't use that word because, I mean, we played in the Stamford Bridge in the semi-families. We were brilliant against Inter, one of the best teams in Europe.

34:13Mikel Arteta:We were brilliant. But sometimes you don't have that day. And when you don't have that day, we have to do the simple things much better than we've done today. And on top of that, when you look at the goals and the goal that Dorquist scored from there, with that angle, someone chasing the top corner is the only place he can put it. So now you have to give credit to the opponent as well. Obviously, over my shoulder right now, you can see that second goal. Handball? I haven't looked at it. It's fine. It's gone and we can do nothing about it. Do you think how you react to this as a team, maybe even as a club, is going to define if you have the season you want to have and achieve what you want to achieve?

34:52Mikel Arteta:But we have to do what especially the players deserve, which is to be very close to them and remind them every day how good they are and how much joy we're having next to them. And that's exactly that. And I take responsibility for everything and we move on and in three days we have another game. Is there anything, I mean, maybe you don't think they need this, but do you feel like they need freeing up? And is there anything you can do to help them with that, whether it's tactical or whether it's emotional? I don't think so. I think they're free. I mean, three days ago, how free and fluent they looked in Milan.

35:24Mikel Arteta:It was unbelievable. So, no excuses. We accepted the defeat. We congratulate the opponent and we move forward. Still top of the league. Thank you. As if he needed reminding, but the gap is down to four points. The reunion is complete, Patrick. We brought Gary Neville in from the cold as well. You're the only company United win. I don't. I don't. I've come in to see them wellies.

35:48Patrick Vieira:How are they? That's a really interesting... There they are. I'm not taking style tip from you, guys. I'll draw the line there. That's a really interesting question that Mikel Arteta's raised there because he said it himself that the team has been congratulated for their fluency in attack just a few days ago, beating one of the best teams in Italy, if not the best. And then we saw that today. Why? Why have we seen such a difference? I think, like he mentioned it, I think you have to give a credit to United. I think they had a day where they didn't perform. Then you need to analyse the game and try to understand why.

36:26Does it not come down to the approach, though, that is set from the start, Patrick? I don't know if it's the approach. I don't know if the fact that they are in the top of the league and it's important for them not to lose the game, and maybe they stop playing the game to win the game. I felt that they are less aggressive going forward. There is less energy in the team. And I think that is the change that I saw from Arsenal. But they're still top of the table. They still have four points clear. So it's important for them to stay calm, to stay composed, and to go back to basics. And go back to basics is like approaching the games, being on the field, and try to win games.

37:06Play to win the games. And you can lose games. But I think the disappointment today is that they didn't perform. home. They didn't play at the level that we all know they can do. So that is, I think, the frustration from myself and I think from the manager as well. Patrick said at half-time that Arsenal need to be braver in the second half, but I don't know if you would feel like they have to be braver overall. Do you think that they're going to have to change the way they go about things if they are to get over the line gap?

37:32Gary Neville:I'm torn a little bit because I think after the Liverpool game earlier in the season, I think I said that they needed to take the handbrake off because I definitely thought that there were more attacking players on the bench that could have been used. But I think we ask for patterns and combinations, don't we, sometimes in teams? We ask... Arsenal get leveled... It gets leveled at Arsenal that they're predictable. But actually, it's what you actually want in the attacks from a good team. So you can almost, when City are playing really well under Pep Guardiola, or any team's playing really well, you see repeat patterns and repeat combinations.

38:01Gary Neville:So you see a lot of what they're going to do. You know what Erdegaard's going to do. You know what Saka's going to do. You know what Trossard's going to do, which is a good thing in some ways. But also, if it doesn't go well, and you say it's predictable, and there's a bit of that with Arsenal. What I would say is the more instinctive players that they have, like Eze, Martinelli, Madweke, he's gone for the more positional players like Erdegaard, Trossard today, rather than those more instinctive players. And then when they've obviously gone 2-1 down, he's had to bring some of them on. But I would have liked to have seen Martinelli, Madweke, and Eze come on all at once, and just almost in some way just go for it.

38:34Gary Neville:When he made the substitutions, I just thought there was still a little bit of Mourinho coming on, and a little bit of Ben White coming on that I thought, could you just gone a little bit more and sort of just gone full-on spontaneity and it'd be a little bit less methodical. People are starting to talk about the attacking numbers when it comes to Arsenal's forwards, all of whom are struggling to contribute what you would probably expect of a team that's chasing honours on four different fronts, don't forget. Bukayo Saka, not scored now in his last 13 in all competitions. Jokeres without a non-penalty goal in his last 11 in the league.

39:08Martinelli not scored in his last 13 Premier League appearances. Madweke hasn't scored yet here for Arsenal.

39:14Gary Neville:They recycle it a lot, don't they? They get into business and then they recycle it quite a lot in terms of... That's the only thing I would say about them. When did they put the ball into the box? It only for... Incappi did it for the goal. That's the only thing. It's a bit of overthink and everything, isn't it? But what do you think when you see that graphic? Well, that doesn't look good. But there's also a case where you don't panic. Some of your attacking players will go through spells like that. But if you step back and reflect and go, at the start of the season, the manager's up over the next few days.

39:41And he's talking about the game during the week in the Champions League. Premiership is a lot different, obviously, to the Champions League or whatever. Different competition, different mindset. They're top of the league in the Premiership. So that's the job known players in the mindset. And these stats about players not scoring goals, but that can change quickly. That's what happens. And obviously they're very strong on set pace. It's a big disappointment again. They've not turned up. They're giving up three goals. it's not like two of them were absolutely brilliant goals they gifted them one just before half time so I think he spoke well and when they've had setbacks before Liverpool earlier in the season they responded well and they had a disappointment losing Aston Villa and they responded well to that that's the test of any team so they're under pressure they're at the top they've been in brilliant positions over the last few years and they've come up short so that might be in the back of their mindsets so that's where the manager and the staff will have to look at them and say look lads keep calm but when they are playing and again particularly the last three league

40:33Patrick Vieira:games it has looked a bit, looked a bit predictable. It's all about how teams set up against them though, look at United today, they were in a low block at times and they find it very difficult. Like Gary says, they're recycling the ball and can't find that killer pass. But they scored two goals at home, if you scored two goals at home and you're top of the league or you're one of the top teams, you still think two goals at home would be good enough to certainly get your draw and most times a win. When we were at United we were trying to go for a league title, the second half of the season the managers obviously had to us lads you get two goals a game you'll win the league because you know you're going to be pretty decent at the back you're going to dominate the position they're top of the league we're talking about them they're just giving away massively four points still ahead yes the psychological battle is very important United was a dangerous game from today I smelt it before the game today United were always going to cause Arsenal problems everyone talked about the fact that Arsenal needed a number nine to get over the line this season after three seasons finishing runner up and it hasn't really played out like that in terms of the numbers that have been produced across the season so far.

41:37The top scorers list has Jochores on five. This is just the league. Trossard on five. But Ongol actually is the joint third top scorer. Again, Patrick, is that something that Arsenal don't need to worry about at this stage? Or would you expect two or three to burst from that pack and put the numbers on the board to get Arsenal over the line? I don't think you need to be worried. Of course, it's a concern because you want your number nine to score goals to be like two figures. And that's not the case. And it is the concern. But you're still in the top of the league. So if you're in the top of the league, that means you're doing something good.

42:13So there's a collective game and I think it's quite interesting to see so many other players with four goals, five goals. What they need, I think, is how you can create for your number nine, how you can put your number nine in a better position to create those chances and to score goals. By doing that is maybe to put more of the ball inside the box. Sometimes I felt that, like Gary mentioned early on, they try to recycle the ball. And if you have this kind of physical presence, you need to put the balls inside the box because you never know, you can score against like an own goal you scored today.

42:44But I think they need to have more people inside the box. You need to put more of the balls inside the box, especially when you are in the last 30 yards. The positive for Arsenal is that people have won the title before without having a 20-goal striker, which a lot of people always think you do need. But it's not the case. The team that won it after Arsenal's last title was Chelsea 0-4-5. Frank Lampard top scored for them with 13. Three of those were penalties. Gundogan, when City won the title in 2021, with 13. And so the list goes on, Gary.

43:15Gary Neville:Yeah, I mean, look, it can happen where you can get contributions from many different areas and you can get eights and tens from others from midfield. The one thing I would say about Arsenal being a striker, and it's similar sometimes with City when you watch Ireland, although he does get the goals to go with it. As Patrick's just said, you can't really picture what type of pass or cross Arsenal players play into the box that often. With City back in the day, it used to be that De Bruyne and Silva would get to the byline and they'd get those pullbacks in and you'd see those types of goals that would be scored.

43:44Gary Neville:With Arsenal, at the moment, unless Saka comes in with a dribble and then he maybe just dinks one. I can't really see another picture of how you score goals a lot of goals in this team, because other than set pieces, that's the only time really where you see balls getting put into the box directly.

43:59Patrick Vieira:I think Arsenal are a little bit too deep tactically. So when they lose a ball, Saka and Martinelli or Trossard go really deep. And then when they try to go on the transition, Man United, especially today, are allowed to get back into positions. So you go to the wing, Saka's getting doubled up. You go to the other side, Trossard, and everything's moving too slow. You're looking for that ink-trick pass right over the top. And it's just not... They're all set. You can talk about Arsenal all you want, but United actually defended really well. If you want to get the ball from back to front, they've got to do it a lot quicker.

44:32Patrick Vieira:As soon as Arsenal looked the ball, there's many occasions today when there was too deep. As soon as they get the ball, then having to fight the way to get the ball forward. Everything was just a little bit too slow. It was a nervous performance from them. Look at the first goal they gave away. Centre-half's pinging into someone who's usually comfortable on the ball. There was that nervous tension in the stadium. The closer you get towards the end of the season, that'll just get worse. So at this moment in time, going back to the Liverpool game as well, they're not dealing with that very well.

45:01You talk about getting strikers. Haaland's got 20, but I'd rather be in Arsenal position at the top of the table before five points clear. Absolutely. But there's also a case of don't panic. If you look at the table and what Arsenal players have done and where they're heading towards and all the other competitions they're in. but when you're home and you're does that expectation and Man United come into town deal with it and they didn't deal with that expectation and pressure today. I want to ask about Patrick about the nerves. Is it because it's been so long do you think and does that come from the stands?

45:30No I think it's one of the reasons it's been so long that Arsenal didn't win the title. I think when you look at Margeto of the players here they want to win it so badly and of course they're feeling the pressure and the expectation from the fan and it's about how How do you manage that expectation? And they all want to win it, I think. So how do you manage that expectation? I think it's to go back to basics. It's about how do you get to top of the table? You get to the top of the table, that means you've been playing in the right way, you've been really positive, and not changing the attitude.

46:07And we know that Arsenal has been a long, long time that they didn't win the title. I think in the last couple of years, they manage to build this kind of experience, they bring quality players and they have two good players in every position. So I think they have the squad to go and to win the title. But that's the hard part, isn't it? The last bit is always the hardest bit. Because they never did it and I believe that the first time is always the most difficult one.

46:31Gary Neville:Patrick, can I ask you about that? Because when I first won a title, I had very experienced players who had already won the title and when you came to Arsenal, 98 would have been your first title. but you had Tony Adams in the team, you had Nigel Winterburn lead. How important were those players in settling everybody down? Because the Arsenal players haven't got a Tony Adams or a Nigel Winterburn. How important were they to you? Really, really important, especially when you're going through a difficult period because to win the title and to be playing well from the first to the last game of the season, it will never going to happen.

47:02It will have time and moment where you release a little bit of confidence and you're not playing well. So those kind of experiences are quite really important because they are the one who will keep the spirit higher and they are the one who will keep the togetherness together. And that's why, for me, they will be really important for Declan Rice because he's got the personality. He's an international player and he plays with belief and he's got the strong personality on the field. So I think, personally, he will have a really important role to lift a little bit the mood of the team. He was quiet today, wasn't he?

47:38He was quiet, but he was one of the best, I believe, on Arsenal side. I think he was the one who was going through challenges. He didn't play at his level, but I think he was the best Arsenal players today.

47:49Gary Neville:Patrick, you obviously know Mikel Arteta and you've been a manager as well. I was thinking actually, doing the podcast after, what will he be saying now and what would he be doing tomorrow morning to try and reset everything? What do you think he will be doing? I think, first of all, I think what he will be doing is showing the table. you know because you're still top of the league so that means not everything is to throw away but at the same time you have to analyze and to try to understand what did we do wrong to be losing points and I think it's about making them understand how it's important to perform together as a team but when you look at the performance of Arsenal's teams today I think there's some key players who are not at the best and that can be a physical issues that can be a lack of confidence.

48:35I don't think as a team they lost a lot but I think the single players, individual players, not performing at that level to allow them to win games. I have to pick up on something you said right before the game today, Patrick, which was now or never for Arsenal in terms of winning the title this season. What did you mean by that? I think the team's been built in the last five years since Arteta was there and you can see that the team's growing up year after year. I think in the last couple of years did a really good job. And I think they are, today, the best team in the Premier League. They are the best.

49:15When I say today or never, it's because other teams are not doing well. And I think that's an advantage for Arsenal. They've been playing well since the beginning of the season. It will be sad to see them losing that kind of momentum. So that's why it's important to stick together to create this togetherness to keep performing because Liverpool are out of the title race. Chelsea, I believe, are still out of the title race. So it will be City and Aston Villa who can really challenge them. But that's why I believe that is an important year for them.

49:54Gary Neville:It does feel unthinkable, though, doesn't it, this season, that they don't win it. It does feel a little bit like that. I understand what you mean by now or never, because it does feel like if you're on that journey and you're getting closer and then everyone falls away this season, which they have a little bit. City have never been as weak. Liverpool have gone. Will City go and get Semenya and Mark Gay in their period of weakness? And look, they're the danger. City are obviously the danger. Does it matter how you win it? Once you get that trophy in your hands, Roy? No, of course not. On the back of your medal, it doesn't tell you how many points you've won it by.

50:26It's just about getting over the line. And these are tests for Arsenal. When you're on the board with the manager, what will he do over the next few weeks for them? Because, again, momentum's a huge word in sport. but they've got a little bit of room to obviously slip up like they did today. So the manager and the staff jobs might be in the next week or two about taking it easy in training, a couple of days off, they've got a busy schedule, games, obviously a huge schedule coming up, big games coming up and you say, how can you do them, how can you take them opportunity to give them days off? You do it, you take a risk sometimes, you think, well we should be in tomorrow but the manager, our tester will have to look at his group and say, well it's not necessarily physical stuff, it's just mental, mix things, train up a bit, lighten it up but then again, you need your top lads performing and a few of them were just offered.

51:03Gary Neville:They've got a gimme game, haven't they, on Wednesday? Is it Tuesday or Wednesday? They've got a game in Europe, which obviously is not that important, but I think Leeds away next weekend is really important. Is it a case that when you're winning... Yeah, but we played for great managers and they were brave enough to give you days off and there's a bravery in that because people think you should be in all the time. But that Leeds game is big. Oh, yeah, next weekend, yeah, of course. He's got to put... I mean, look, he will prepare everything towards that Leeds game for his first 11. I think that game on Wednesday will be...

51:31Gary Neville:they'll want to win it because it's here in front of 60 ,000, but it definitely won't be a priority. Yeah, but I think, even as guests here,

51:37Patrick Vieira:we're putting a lot of pressure on Arsenal. I understand they want to win it, but they are four points clear. In terms of what we're saying... We're not putting pressure on them. We've just said, though, Man City have not been performing at the level. Villa, there are thereabouts, but other teams might slip up as well, you know? Of course, yeah. Or they might have had their slip-ups already. Going back to Roy's point, at the end of the season, it's about winning the title. We was there. We was up against your mum, United. And we had this disbelief going up against you, thinking, oh, they're going to do it again.

52:08Patrick Vieira:And we had a few bad results. I remember one at Everton, where Yaya Tori was at AFCON. And inside the dressing room, we was thinking, we've got no chance. And you have a bad result. Like the guy said, it's how you react from it. It's not like Man City have gone four points clear. We still have a four-point gap. But so what if we're putting pressure on it? We're not putting pressure on them. The question was that Arsenal need to win. Arteta's doing a good job. He's been up against Slott with Klopp's team. Wonderful team. And he's up against Pep, one of the best managers. I'm just saying, every game with Arsenal, they must win.

52:44Patrick Vieira:But everyone else is going to triple as well.

52:47Gary Neville:I've predicted Arsenal will win the league, but I think the fact that they've drawn against Liverpool, drawn against Knox Forest and lost against United, is putting pressure on themselves. It's not us putting pressure on them. They've dropped, basically, in the last couple of weeks, quite a few points. They've won two out of nine. So I don't think it's us putting pressure on them. I actually think Arsenal will win the league and they'll come through this. But it is right that there are questions asked right now because they've only won two out of nine points against Liverpool, Forest and United.

53:12Gary Neville:And I think questions will be asked. If they drop points at Leeds next week, further questions will be asked. It's natural. Would you still be confident, Patrick, of Arsenal winning the league right now? What do you mean? Will Arsenal win the league? I still believe that I was expecting Arsenal to win the game today. Because at home against United, I was expecting them to win the game. And they didn't. I think that City had the difficult period. All those players will come back from injuries. And City will do really well, I believe, at the end of the season. Not standing confident here. Oh, blue on blue.

53:52He's still really open. Which stretcher would you rather be in now? Which stress would you be with a group of players you think that will win the league? Arsenal, of course. But who do you think will win it, though, Patrick?

54:02Gary Neville:If you were saying today... I think that Arsenal have enough. Even if I wasn't... I'm really disappointed about the performance today. I strongly believe that they will go to Leeds and they will win the game at Leeds. I think that Arsenal have enough to go until the end and to win the title. But obviously, if they don't win the game at Leeds, there will be more pressure, especially if City win the next game. And then... We're talking about Arsenal going through a difficult spell. Yeah, Liverpool, they drew. But kept a clean sheet. The Forest game can happen. You're going to go through difficult spells.

54:33And only for two brilliant strikes, really, in the second half. They probably would have got something out of the game. So it's definitely a case of not panicking. And I'll still be thinking, Arsenal to win that league. You've got to get through the sticky back. That's part of trying to win the league. You're going to go through difficult spells.

54:47Gary Neville:Don't panic. But I think, look, I think they'll win the league as well. But until they win the league, they will always be questions about whether they've got the mentality to do it because they've actually, to be fair, fallen at the final hurdle in the last two or three seasons. So they need to get over that line. I think they will, but there will be questions until they do it. What surprised me, Gary, a little bit? You thought I'd be really nervous with five, six, seven games to go. There's really tension here with the support. Every time it was a sloppy pass, the fans were... There's still plenty of games to go as if they're getting nervous too early.

55:19You know what I mean? It's going to get a lot worse.

55:21Patrick Vieira:Yeah, but it was the same when we were going for the league at Man City. It was the exact same. That was just you, Michael. It's different for you guys at the time. If you've been speaking frankly, you guys were certified winners. When you're going for that title, there's a different nervousness. Yeah, but it's that nervous energy, but that can drive you on. And a bit of fear, but you need... But when you have that, the whole idea, when you're playing for Arsenal or Man United or big clubs, and you're playing in front of 60 ,000, 70 ,000, and everyone's nervous, that's when you keep... Bravery is wanting the ball when you don't want it.

55:51We saw Arsenal players today really tempted and nervous. But the reason you're playing for these big clubs is go, yeah, give it to me, I can deal with this. And they didn't do it today. Just one more on this, Patrick, because I'd love to know, with your invincible season, the last time Arsenal actually won the league, were you nervous about winning the title? Or did you feel that that was home and hose? And actually, was the anxiety around dropping that unbeaten run? No, our confidence was too high. Too high. And we had the manager and the staff as well. That is why it will be really important for Michael and his coaching staff to remind, calm and compose and not to put more pressure than Gary can put.

56:30That was Gary. But it will be important for him. He's having a go at Gary Neville again, by the way.

56:37Gary Neville:Let me at him.

56:44That's enough in here, Roy. What a really good manager would do. Take him go, Katnett, and have a chance. Yeah, paintballing. Arms works. No, but to manage those difficult periods, and those difficult periods has to be quite really, really short. And that is why the manager and his staff, they will have a massive impact to play in the next couple of days.

57:11If you're enjoying this podcast, there are plenty more from Sky Sports we think you'll love too. There's the Gary Neville podcast for Gary's immediate reaction to the biggest matches Transfer Talk has the latest on all the big moves in and out of the Premier League and beyond And for WSL fans, check out Pitch to Pod with Jordan Nobbs and Nikita Paris Just search for Sky Sports wherever you get your podcasts For now though, let's get back to the Sky Sports Premier League podcast

57:49Esteban finishes! Juan Pedro blasts it beyond Anderson! Enzo Fernandes into the bottom corner and Chelsea now have all three points here at Zellhaas Park. It's Buendia, oh, astonishing strike! What kills! Another phenomenal away day for Aston Villa! Oh, brilliant! Igor Jesus! That's how you finish. A 1-0 to earn a big three points for Nottingham Forest. Ainu. And we're on the turn. Oh, look at this! What a sensational hit from Matthias Cogna! And this place is stunned once more! What a winner that was. And he is just reflecting on it. Michael Carrick there with Sir Jim Ratcliffe. And Jason Wilcox, Omar Barada there as well.

58:54All keen to have a chat with Michael Carrick after he's delivered another victory for United this afternoon. And we can get his thoughts. He's with Patrick Davison. You're making being the Manchester United manager look very easy. how proud were you of that performance? Yeah, massively proud I think it was different to last week two very different games it was going to be different today they put us under a lot of pressure in different ways we never probably had as much genuine regular threat as we did last week within the game I thought there were periods when we did look really dangerous to come here and score free goals in the manner we did with going one down and coming back and then the setback and then keep going.

59:45Matthias was a huge moment for us. The boys had to put an awful lot in today. It probably didn't come as easy as... It wasn't easy last week, but the flow of the game and the momentum was with us pretty much the whole time. This one we had to dig deep and it was a massive effort and I'm really proud of them. So after 20 minutes, half an hour, how did you start to turn the flow of that match? we understood the start of the game was going to be a little bit like that as much as we tried to turn the momentum in our favour I think we understood how the game was going to go and the flow of it and I thought we started to take the ball and connections through the pitch and had that composure and a few moments probably gaining a bit of confidence as well which was understandable and actually probably we were having a decent spell and we just seemed to have come into the game when they scored and which was disappointing but again showed the character to come back and there were stages in the game we had to defend you know they make you defend the box really and it's challenging at times but I thought we had enough definitely enough in the game to keep believing the confidence you know always fancied us to score.

1:00:53In terms of game plan and maybe where the spaces were I know you said it's obviously different to last week different type of game but can you talk us through that, how it was different?

1:01:06That's different in so many ways. I think the whole atmosphere last week and from the start, you ride that wave and emotionally you're on a constant high in some ways. Today, obviously, coming away, we had to create our own energy between us and the away fans in the corner were incredible. So there's that element, playing away from home and understanding in the phases of the game, really, how it's going to develop and being patient when you've got to... and being disciplined at the right time. Yeah, I thought we took the ball at times really well and played forward and really positive and got the reward from it.

1:01:47You're starting to see some really good connections within the team, like in midfield with Casemiro and Mainu. The two wide guys, the way they could connect and help their full-backs as well, that was key last week. Would you say key again today? Yeah, definitely. Certainly there was all sorts of little connections throughout the pitch, I think partnerships and units that was really strong and it's been 10 days so it was never going to be perfect and we couldn't expect to come here and all of a sudden dominate the whole game and the ball. We're just starting off really and so it's a great starting point but we need to put some layers on top really and we'll try to do that in the coming weeks.

1:02:27How have you done this, Michael? It looks and feels a team and a club transformed at the moment. Yeah, I give a lot of credit to the staff and the players, I have to say, in terms of how much they've invested and how much they've bought into it. It's all right trying to help them and say certain things, but they've got to live it, and they have done. I think you've seen that, boys coming off the bench making a difference. So it's a real collective feeling, and it's great when it comes together and everyone's in it, we can celebrate with the fans at the end. I think it's important and it's a big moment.

1:03:01My kids were in there. They're not kids anymore, but they were in there. They were in the away end, were they? They were in the away end. So even that in itself, it's emotional. It's the passion, it's the excitement of these type of games and to come out on top is fantastic. Did you have a moment? When you were looking, I saw you were in the corner, obviously, to thank the fans. Did you spot your kids? Yeah, I've seen them. Just a little bit of eye contact? Yeah, I've seen them, yeah. It's nice, you know. they were going as crazy as everybody else and it should be like that you know we won't always celebrate obviously with respect to Arsenal and we're in their stadium but I think when you have a result like that I think it's only right we go and appreciate the supporters and we certainly did that Yeah and it's worth remembering you're not just a Manchester United manager former player you're a fan season ticket holder Yeah I am Well I guess there's two sides of it you know there's obviously the emotion of that and then like I said from day one I'm here to do a job really and make the team as best as we can.

1:03:56To have that connection two ways is special. You know everyone's going to get giddy. I'm sure you won't. But are you starting to see, you said from the brilliant performances you had, you can already see layers you can add to it. So are you starting to see a long-term project you can get your teeth into here? It's not that I'm starting to see. I think coming here less than two weeks ago, I said we'd make every decision for the greater of the good and the bigger picture for the football club. My job is to try and keep improving the team and keep adding to it and not getting carried away with two massive results, two huge results and big performances.

1:04:36It's always about what's next that really matters and keep our feet on the ground and keep doing the right things this week. Would you like to do it beyond this season? Listen, I'm enjoying it. It's a fantastic position to be in. What happens next is I'm not going to be answering it every week. because it is what it is. But at the moment, I'm really enjoying it and I'll continue to do what I can. Well done. Thanks very much. Cheers. Well, he says he's not getting carried away, but I reckon there will be plenty of Manchester United persuasion who will be getting carried away. Could you have imagined when he took over with those two fixtures looming, City at home, Arsenal away, that he'd come through that with six points?

1:05:16Gary Neville:No, not on any front. Not on the front of getting the points, It's not on the front of seeing the levels of performance. No, you wouldn't have expected that. It's been a remarkable turnaround and you actually wonder how in the short space of time that he's been in, he's been able to put that performance level into those players and how they've transformed it from what has been, to be fair, absolute guff that we've been watching for six weeks prior to it, to now watching what a real performance is with a real familiarity to it with regards to the system, how they're going to play, the intensity of it.

1:05:51Gary Neville:in control of games without the ball and then obviously big moments in matches, scoring goals. I don't know what's happened. I mean, you two have been managers more than I have. What could he have done in that period that basically has meant that that Manchester United team have transformed from what they were to what they are? Because to be fair, these two performances have been fantastic. Well, I think it helps if you've got your best players available. That's definitely significant, isn't it? That's a big plus for him. People like Maguire coming back in, you've got your attacking options. the fact is the City had a midweek game, Arsenal had a big...

1:06:24All these little details do help because the one thing you would say with United's last two performances, they've certainly played with a lot of energy. They've had that look about them. It's the first time I've looked at them because all talk during the season was United have no real distractions. But when I was watching the games, it looks like they've got loads of distractions. They weren't playing on the front foot. They weren't playing with loads of energy. But the last couple of performances, they certainly looked that way. And certainly their confidence and belief from the last performance today, even from the first few minutes, It's something about them.

1:06:51Again, the players go back to playing their positions. A settled team. They played the same XI from last week. And confidence and belief in players is huge. Last week, you said, Rory, it's one result. It's just one result. Now it's two results. Two big results. And at what point did then it become irresistible that Michael Carrick has to become a really strong part of this conversation about United's future? I think if United win every game from now to the end of the season, I still wouldn't be giving them the job. Why? I just think they need a bigger, more experienced manager. Simple as that.

1:07:25Carrick could win every game. Timing coming into the job was fantastic for him. And he said, yeah, he's enjoying it. You enjoy management when you're winning football matches, of course. But I think the size of the club and the challenges they face over the next few years, because really, I've heard Jamie mention it, Jamie Carrick mentioned the last few weeks, you want a manager you feel will come in and get Man United winning league titles. Are we all going to sit here and believe Michael Carrick can get United winning league titles? Well, we've only got evidence of the last two weeks. I know but that's still not enough for me If you if you think on the back of two wins he warrants the job Then that's a diff.

1:07:57That's that's your opinion and I'm entitled to mine I don't believe he's the man to get Man United back winning titles. Sometimes just this previous experience matter Patrick everyone's talking about a more experienced figure and Gary's has made that point as well, but sometimes does the actual The job fit? Yeah, I think you have young manager maybe with no experience who deserve to have a chance I think you look at that Inter de Milan with Christian Kivu, who is on top of the league in the Serie A. And he's doing a good job. And I think he will win the league. So I think a young manager can be successful in a club like Manchester United.

1:08:29And through his career at United, and of course he will learn. But I think in the last two games that he played against City and against Arsenal, we saw some really good decision making. And when you look at today, the injury of Dukou and then he bring another striker, maybe another manager will go a little bit more defensive and to accept to defend. But no, he put one more striker and I think that is brave from his part. And it's not an easy decision. So I think he deserves to have a chance to manage United. Again, we discussed this last week. There's loads of examples of young managers getting an opportunity and doing really well.

1:09:07but there's more examples of managers getting a job and not doing well. We can all hand-pick, we can pick five, six managers here, a young manager who've gone into a job and done a brilliant job. But I don't think... And you mentioned clubs, Derek. I don't think being young... Inexperienced, maybe. Inexperienced should be enough. Pep Guardiola was at Barcelona. Of course, but I can name you 50 examples of a manager who got a job. But I think he deserved... Everyone mentions Pep or Zidane. But he deserves a chance. And then time will say if he's good enough for United or not.

1:09:41Gary Neville:Look, I played with Michael Carrick for a number of years. And to be fair, enormous amount of respect, time for him, love for him. I think he's a really good person. He's a fantastic football player. He's understated. He's composed. He will not get too high or too low. A few weeks ago, before the first game, I think everybody in football thought that a really successful thing would be for Michael Carrick to hold the baton for the rest of the season, do a really good job, put some happiness back into the players, put some happiness back into the fans, put the happiness back into the team, get the performance levels and try and get them into Europe.

1:10:15Gary Neville:And if he does that, hand the baton up. That was what everyone was thinking three weeks ago, four weeks ago. Manchester United have acted emotionally a number of times in this last 10 to 12 years. I honestly could not be happier about the last two weeks. The familiarity of what I'm watching feels to me like I'm watching my team play again. Properly. Forget the fact they've won the game. They just played properly how I would expect them to play, with an intensity and energy and a quality.