has downplayed ’s chances of winning the title this season and feels their celebrations after beating Liverpool displayed an immaturity.
The Gunners produced an excellent first-half display on Sunday and deservedly took the lead through , only to be pegged back by a calamitous own goal from Gabriel Magalhaes on the stroke of half-time.
Liverpool improved after the break but a mix-up between Virgil van Dijk and Alisson gifted Gabriel Martinelli a goal, with Leandro Trossard wrapping up the 3-1 win after Ibrahima Konate had been sent off.
Arsenal celebrated wildly at full-time, , and Neville was also disapproving – though for very different reasons.
The former Manchester United right-back felt the reaction of Arsenal’s players gave away how little confidence they had in their ability to win the title this season, while he also feels their lack of cutting edge will ultimately be their downfall.
‘The celebrations at the end I don’t think were of a team that thought they were going to go on and win the title,’ said Neville on Sky Sports afterwards.
‘I think they were of a team that didn’t want to be out of a title race, and that was the relief that we saw at the end.
‘I agree with what Gael [Clichy] said about the word ruthless. I think Arsenal, when I watch them, are a better team than Liverpool but I think Liverpool are a more ruthless team, they’re more ruthless in the final third.
‘And I think that could just cost them in the end, and that’s me having said at the start of the season I thought Arsenal would win the league.
‘But there’s still so many signs today, so many examples, of Arsenal not having that killer instinct in the final part of the pitch that I think at some point in the last part of this season it’s going to hurt them.
‘So for me they’re a really well coached team, their system is good, their way of playing is good, but just that real important last bit [is missing].
‘Liverpool have got Jota, Salah, Gakpo, Diaz, they’ve got so much threat Liverpool. And I think that, in the end, will just be a problem.’
He added: ‘For me, with the celebrations, I’ve gone past the idea of having a go at teams for celebrating. I just still think there’s a little bit of immaturity in their celebrations.
‘Which means, to me, it felt like relief that they weren’t eight points behind.’
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