Ian Wright and Alan Shearer have both taken aim at the attitude of Arsenal’s players during the first half of their FA Cup tie against Leeds United.
Despite setting up a fourth round tie with Bournemouth later this month, after edging the past the Whites at the Emirates Stadium, the Gunners certainly didn’t have things their own way.
Marcelo Bielsa’s side were the better team in the opening 45 minutes but were let down by some poor finishing in front of goal.
And both Wright and Shearer believe the Gunners underestimated the current Championship leaders in the opening 45 minutes.
“I don’t know. They started very slowly. You listen to Reiss Nelson saying that he underestimated them and didn’t respect them,” Wright said post-match.
“I think Leeds did surprise them. They kept the ball very well and they closed down very well. Ozil didn’t have many touches in the first half.
“People like [Granit] Xhaka they put him under pressure and he made mistakes, Then what happened was the second half they got a bit more braver and passed the ball in areas where players like [Nicolas] Pepe can create something. And that is how the goal came about.”
Before Shearer added: “I think Arsenal turned up in that first half and thought we don’t really have to run around.
“We don’t have to be organised. We don’t have to be aggressive like we have. I thought they just turned up and expected to win the game and not do all the things they have been doing in previous matches.
“They did it in the second half and they got the result."
