Gary Neville criticizes Pep Guardiola’s team selection in Arsenal defeat

Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville has criticized Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola for his team selection in their 5-1 defeat to Arsenal. Speaking on Sky Sports, Neville suggested that Guardiola’s choices contributed to City’s second-half collapse.

The Premier League champions had leveled the game shortly after half-time when Erling Haaland canceled out Martin Odegaard’s early goal. However, Arsenal responded with goals from Thomas Partey, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Kai Havertz, and Ethan Nwaneri, marking the fourth time City conceded four or more goals this season—the most ever under Guardiola.

With key players Rodri, Ederson, and Ruben Dias out injured, Guardiola benched Kevin De Bruyne and started Mateo Kovacic and Bernardo Silva in midfield, while Phil Foden and Savinho flanked Haaland in attack.

“If this was another manager, we’d be sat there saying: are you sure Bernardo Silva and Mateo Kovacic will work against Arsenal, who’ve got Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice, and Thomas Partey? They’re energetic and got real quality and power,” Neville remarked.

He continued, “I think to actually give them a chance, maybe you pack that midfield with three or four players in there and maybe it’s numbers – and then to add to that.”

Neville also criticized Guardiola’s use of Phil Foden and Savinho. “He played Phil Foden out on the wide right, Savinho on the left, who I thought blocked Josko Gvardiol going forward the whole game,” he noted.

Summarizing his thoughts, Neville concluded, “So I just thought maybe today Pep Guardiola got his team selection wrong.”