Arsene Wenger names two Arsenal players who are cracking under title pressure

Two of Mikel Arteta’s most-dependable stars are showing big nerves

Arsene Wenger believes two Arsenal players are starting to crack under the pressure of a Premier League title race.

The Gunners have seen their lead at the top of the table cut to four points after a first home defeat of the season on Sunday, as Manchester United ran out 3-2 winners.

Arsenal still remain on course to win their first league title since 2024, but are now winless in three games to allow Manchester City and Aston Villa to close the gap.

A Lisandro Martinez own goal gave them the lead, only for a Martin Zubimendi mistake and two stunning strikes from Patrick Dorgu and Matheus Cuna to settle the game inside a tense and nervous Emirates Stadium.

And Wenger believe that Arsenal , who were booed off at both half-time and full-time, needed to show more patience after conceding.

"I believe [Arsenal] wanted to win the game so much that they lacked a bit of patience in the build up and with the speed of the ball," Wenger said on beIN SPORTS.

"They used a bit too much force and not enough technique. On the other side I believe that [Manchester United manager Michael] Carrick found a good formula and a good balance between defensive stability and good technical level.

William Saliba and Gabriel

Arsenal FC via Getty Images

"It’s the first time I feel that the central defenders [ William Saliba and Gabriel ] were a bit more nervous and less dominant than they usually are in games.

"With the [first] United goal, Martin Zubimendi makes a mistake but Saliba should not be going in front of him, he should give him support and stay behind him to have the possibility to defend the ball."

He added: “When you concede three goals at home, it’s difficult to win. I would say the goals scored on both sides illustrated a way that both teams played.

“The goals of Man United were well built up, good cohesion and the goals of Arsenal were more decided by fighting and power from the corners, it was not clean play. They gave everything, Arsenal , but they lacked in the first half what I’d say is patience and technical cohesion.