Gary Neville aghast by Keane and Hasselbaink's verdict on what 'disaster' is for Arsenal

Arsenal have dropped four points in their last two matches with Manchester City now closing in on their spot at the top of the table - but the Sky Sports pundits disagreed on what finishing second would represent for the Gunners

James Quinlan and Darren Wells

21:37, 16 Apr 2023

Gary Neville insists Arsenal failing to win the title would not be a disaster(Image: Sky Sports)

Gary Neville is adamant Arsenal failing to win the Premier League title this season would not be a "disaster" despite Roy Keane and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink arguing otherwise.

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The Gunners dropped two points in their title pursuit on Sunday as their gap at the top was narrowed to just four points with rivals Manchester City boasting a game in hand. It comes after Arsenal were also held to a draw by Liverpool last weekend and ahead of the crunch meeting with City which is shaping up to be a title decider.

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Few expected Mikel Arteta's side to challenge for top honours this season, but having led the table for the majority of the campaign, Keane and Hasselbaink feel losing the title now would be difficult for Arsenal to swallow, though Neville was quick to dismiss their claims.

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In a fierce debate on Sky Sports, Keane said: "If they finish second, huge disappointment for Arsenal."

Gary Neville opposes the views of Roy Keane and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink

Neville disputed the views of his fellow pundits(Image: Sky Sports)

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Roy Keane and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink challenge Gary Neville's theory

Keane and Hasselbaink are adamant failure for Arsenal is unthinkable at this stage(Image: Sky Sports)

Would Arsenal failing to win the title be a disaster? Have your say in the comments below.

Neville replied: "Oh it'll be a disappointment but Jimmy was saying it's a disaster."

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RK: "It's a disaster."

GN: "No it's not a disaster."

"You've been leading the whole way through," Hasselbaink chimed in. "Come on, to give it away in the last three matches, it's a disaster. It doesn't matter if at the beginning of the season you say 'oh we're not going to be number one'. It doesn't matter, you've been number one the whole season."

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Keane pointed out Arsenal's collapse at the end of last season which saw them miss out on top four(Image: Sky Sports)

Gary Neville doubles down on his point to Roy Keane and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink

Neville feels this season has still been a good one for Arsenal regardless if they win the title(Image: Sky Sports)

GN: "Jimmy, If I was Manchester City's players that didn't win the league with Haaland up front scoring 50-odd goals with Grealish and Mahrez, I'd think that was a disaster if I was Manchester City."

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RK: "But Gary, Arsenal have made sacrifices basically playing weakened teams to go out all of the other cup competitions, their whole focus over the past few months has been the league because they started so well. Players came in, they’ve recruited well in January, so for them to slip up now - we’re talking about Arsenal Football Club, Arsenal are a big football club, by the way.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta looks dejected at the final whistle(Image: Shaun Brooks/Action Plus/REX/Shutterstock)

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard consoles Bukayo Saka after his penalty miss(Image: Getty Images)

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GN: "Look, last season they struggled to get over the line to finish in the top four. The same players, a lot of them are still there so it wouldn’t surprise me if they struggled to get over the line to win a title. If they didn’t do [win the Premier League], I would almost half expect that."

JFH: "But that doesn’t make it right."

RK: "But when they slipped up last year, Gary, everyone said it was a huge setback."

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GN: "But that was a huge setback!"

RK: "And this wouldn’t be?

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GN: "Arsenal not getting top four is a different thing than Arsenal not winning the league.

RK: "But if you look at the position they were in they had it! They had it wrapped up in the top four! They’ve got previous!"

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