Gary Neville’s criticism of Arsenal

Gary Neville has had a rough week. The Manchester United devotee had to endure his team’s demolition at the hands of historical rivals Liverpool, breaking much of the momentum the Red Devils had been building. It was just a few days ago that Neville had doubled down on his claim that United would finish above Arsenal, despite the league leaders being now 14 points ahead of his cherished club. While the former Mancunian has had a knack for annoying Arsenal fans, repeatedly doubting their title aspirations, his recent comments brought his criticism of the Gunners to a new level. Speaking on The Overlap, the former Mancunian argued:

Emotions in football, when you’re that desperate and you celebrate that much, and you’ve still got half the race to go almost, is not a good thing. The emotion is something that is a negative, it’s not a positive for me.

― Gary Neville, The Overlap

Gary was referring to Arsenal’s comeback against Aston Villa the previous weekend. Little did he know, the stated celebrations would be dwarfed by the scenes at the Emirates following Reiss Nelson’s last-gasp 97th-minute winner against Bournemouth.

Restoring optimism, capturing fans’ hearts

Now, I have already covered on Footy Forward how the Celebration Police has already been working overtime to reprimand Arsenal players and Mikel Arteta for their antics. While these claims have previous not garnered much attention, I thought that for them to be conveyed by a multiple Premier League winner like Gary Neville, deserved a deeper investigation.

It is undeniable that the mood has changed at the Emirates. The fans and players alike have not had so much to celebrate in years and although the joy in the stadium is clearly genuine, there is also a design to it. Think back to the end of Arsène Wenger’s tenure as Arsenal manager. It wasn’t only the results that drove the North London legend out of the club. After all Wenger was still doing far better than the consecutive 8th place finishes of 2020 and 2021. No, it was instead a growing sense of cynicism and apathy around the club that led to his precipitated exit. The Emirates was emptied and quiet. With the likes of Jürgen Klopp becoming highly successful, Gooners were desperate for a younger, more energetic representation of Arsenal.

Mikel Arteta has understood this since day 1. He has made it a point to restore optimism and a sense of communion between fans and the team. Resources have been provided to help fans better support their club, increase the level of noise and improve the atmosphere in the Emirates. Evidence of this includes the foundation of a supporter’s group dedicated to re-energising the Clock End, or the introduction of Louis Dunford’s “The Angel” as the club’s unofficial anthem, which is now played before each game.

Greater fan support has helped achieve better results on the pitch, which have in turn sparked greater support. But this symbiotic communion has only been made possible by the same level of passion being reciprocated by the players. You just know Arsenal fans have watched and re-watched the reactions to Reiss Nelson’s rocket over and over with a smile of their faces.

The making of a team

The delirious scenes against Bournemouth, with players, subs, staff and manager running onto the field were not the presumptuous and arrogant reactions of an emotionally unstable side that Neville would have them be. It was rather the making of a team, more ready to fight for the fans and each other with every obstacle overcome. Certainly a young team, but one with now a growing sense of belief in the possibility of achieving a monumental task.

Most great sides in the history of football have had their fair share of last minute comebacks, and all of them have been sealed with the appropriate level of exultation. Gary Neville should know this better than most. Wasn’t he part of one of the most famous and successful teams in football under Sir Alex Ferguson, so accustomed to dramatic late wins that we all remember the expression “Fergie Time”?

Just look back at last year’s Champions League winners. Real Madrid’s European campaign was anything but a showcase of control and serenity, coming back from impossible odds against PSG, Chelsea and Manchester City. Yet with each game where they refused to accept the insurmountable, defied the limits of the unimaginable, Madrid grew in strength.

So let’s have more emotion, not less, and let us enjoy our football Gary Neville!