The Spanish coach is always very animated on the touchline (Picture: AFP)
Gary Neville has suggested Arsenal’s ability to show calmness and composure in matches is being hampered by manager Mikel Arteta’s ‘jumping around’ on the touchline.
The Gunners took the lead twice in Sunday’s 2-2 draw at home to Tottenham in the north London derby – but they were pegged back on each occasion by excellent finishes from Spurs skipper Son Heung-min.
Neville was critical of Arsenal’s reaction to retaking the lead after Bukayo Saka’s 54th minute penalty, saying they got ‘caught out’ and did not switch back on after celebrating the goal.
Their lead was wiped out just 23 seconds after play restarted as James Maddison robbed a dithering Jorginho, drove forward and then played in Son, who calmly slotted the ball past David Raya.
Neville felt it showed a lack of composure from the Arsenal team and believes the senior players should have kept them focused – though feels that is hard to do when Arteta is so animated and emotional on the touchline.
Speaking on The Gary Neville Podcast, he said: ‘I want to see a composure from this Arsenal team and that’s difficult because the manager’s on the sideline jumping around like you wouldn’t believe.
‘I want to see passion, but I want to see composure and a coldness, and that feels like a contradiction. But I want to see it in the right moments at the right times.
Jorginho was robbed by Maddison as Spurs hit back immediately (Picture: Getty)
‘When they scored that second goal, Saka’s penalty, which was a beautiful penalty, celebrate it, give your fans something because they want to see it means something.
‘But there should be two or three senior players in that group saying, “Right, come on. Switch on now, we’re ready and we’re going to see this through”.
More: Trending
‘Your mentality kicks in of knowing when a game’s in danger.
‘Declan Rice had gone off at half-time and that presented a danger, so should Jorginho have been left there almost last man on the ball for Son’s second equaliser? Maybe, maybe not.
‘He should have done better himself, of course, but when you concede a goal a minute after one going in, that’s what I’m talking about, that mentality. They didn’t get set again.’
MORE : Arsenal hopeful over Declan Rice injury despite problem ‘intensifying’ overnight
MORE : Ian Wright admits Arsenal star was lucky to avoid red card in north London derby
MORE : Jamie Carragher urges Aaron Ramsdale to leave Arsenal in January transfer window
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.