Gary Neville, the former Manchester United defender turned pundit for Sky Sports, warned that Arsenal will have to be "wheelbarrowed" across the finish line if they hope to clinch the Premier League crown after their gritty 1-0 triumph over Newcastle United on Saturday night. The decisive goal came early from Eberechi Eze, whose clinical finish from a short‑corner routine restored the Gunners to the top of the table, leaving them three points clear of Manchester City. The victory was especially significant because Arsenal entered the match under pressure. They had suffered a setback the previous weekend, losing to Pep Guardiola’s City side, while City themselves had moved into first place after beating Burnley.
The north‑London club therefore faced a crucial test to re‑establish momentum and keep their title hopes alive. Neville, speaking on his own podcast, stressed that the upcoming four league fixtures would be anything but easy for a side that has not lifted the league trophy in 22 years. He highlighted the lack of experience among many of Arsenal’s players as a factor that could amplify anxiety during the run‑in. "You can feel the edginess," he said.
"It’s a crowd that hasn’t seen a title race for so long, and it’s a group of players who haven’t lived through it either. If they manage to get over the line, they’ll need to be wheelbarrowed across it – it won’t be a smooth sail." While applauding the win, Neville was also critical of the overall quality of Arsenal’s display. He argued that several aspects of their play were sub‑optimal from a tactical standpoint.
"They’re very good defensively and they work incredibly hard," he noted. "They sprint back into shape, stay compact, and are well‑organised – qualities that deserve respect and can win titles. But what’s missing is the freedom and certainty in their attacking play.
They didn’t show that forward thrust today." Neville pointed out that the only goal came from a set‑piece, and that Arsenal struggled to create clear‑cut chances in open play. He lamented their tendency to recycle possession around the edge of the box without penetrating the final third. "When you’re 2‑0 or 3‑0 up you can try to draw the opponent out, move them side‑to‑side and frustrate them, but Arsenal aren’t doing that quickly enough," he explained.
"Instead they amble from side to side, taking one touch after another, while Newcastle’s defenders simply stand in front of them. The lack of positive intent is evident." Eze’s goal was a textbook example of Arsenal’s short‑corner strategy paying dividends. The winger struck from a short corner that had been rehearsed many times in training.
In fact, Arsenal have employed short corners only six times in their first 33 games this season, but three of those came in the opening ten minutes against Newcastle – a third of their total short‑corner attempts for the campaign. Neville praised the decision to stick with the routine, noting that it forced Newcastle to groan after the first two attempts and ultimately delivered the winning finish.
He gave the Gunners credit for their set‑piece execution, saying, "Most teams would revert to a conventional corner after a couple of failed attempts, but Arsenal persisted and it worked. The movement created space for Kai Havertz and allowed Eze to receive the ball at the edge of the box, where he delivered an exceptional finish." However, Neville warned that set‑pieces alone will not be enough. Arsenal need to add more goals to their arsenal if they are to keep pace with City’s potent attack. "They can keep clean sheets, but City are firing on all cylinders.
Arsenal must win every remaining game and find a reliable source of goals," he asserted. The title race is further complicated by Arsenal’s involvement in the Champions League semi‑finals, where they face Atletico Madrid in the first leg on Wednesday. Neville dismissed the notion of prioritising one competition over the other, insisting that the club must strive for success in both. "There’s no prioritisation – these are the two biggest trophies.
The key is to maintain momentum, keep winning, and preserve the defensive balance and set‑piece organisation that have served them well." He also reflected on the psychological aspect, suggesting that many Arsenal players have never won a Champions League and may be more focused on the league as a more attainable prize. "Mikel Arteta has to treat every game as a final and not favour one competition," Neville said. "The Premier League is arguably easier to win right now, but the Champions League is a different beast with stronger opponents." In summary, Neville’s analysis painted a picture of a talented yet inexperienced Arsenal side that has the defensive foundation to challenge for silverware but still lacks the attacking fluency required to dominate a title race.
Their reliance on set‑pieces, while effective, must be complemented by more dynamic, forward‑driven play. The next few weeks will test the squad’s mental resilience, tactical adaptability, and ability to convert chances into goals. If they can overcome those hurdles, they may indeed find themselves wheelbarrowed – rather than sailing – across the finish line to claim the Premier League trophy.