Arsenal warned to change mentality before Leeds after 3-2 home defeat, says Vieira

Arsenal have been urged to shift their mentality ahead of Saturday’s trip to Leeds after a 3-2 home defeat to Manchester United, with club legend Patrick Vieira saying “there’s still questions about the mental strength of the team” and Roy Keane adding the side looked “a bit frightened tonight.” The loss has cut the Gunners’ lead at the top of the Premier League to just four points.

The Emirates game saw Arsenal take an early lead via an own goal from Lisandro Martinez but then lose composure: a misplaced pass from Martin Zubimendi led to Bryan Mbeumo’s equaliser, Patrick Dorgu volleyed Leeds into the lead early in the second half, and Matheus Cunha curled a long-range winner after Mikel Merino had briefly levelled from a set-piece.

Boss Mikel Arteta’s decision to make a quadruple substitution was criticised for upsetting midfield balance, and boos rang around the Emirates. Arteta defended the players’ effort but said they “weren’t efficient enough,” while Goal’s analysis warned that an obsession with efficiency and set-pieces has crept into Arsenal’s play.

Arsenal’s recent run in the Premier League has produced two draws and a defeat in their last three matches, and captain Martin Odegaard acknowledged past near-misses are on the players’ minds. The side completed a Champions League group phase win over Kairat Almaty but Goal described that as a meaningless fixture ahead of the tougher test at Elland Road.

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