27/01/2026

SPORTS TUESDAY | JAN 27, 2026

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Vieira questions Arsenal’s mental strength Gunners have dropped seven points in three games as they attempt to win Premier League title F ORMER Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira insisted there were still questions over the mental strength of his old performance they will be really disap pointed with, not because they lose the game but the way they lose the game. he said. “They are feeling the pres sure, there are signs over the last few weeks. oed the words of Harry Maguire who was awarded the player of the match trophy. that confidence and belief, you give the manager and the staff credit.” Ű BY CARL MARKHAM

Keane was then pressed by fellow Sky Sports pundit Micah Richards on whether Manchester United should hire Carrick on a permanent basis already given he has led the team to wins against first and second in the League. “The job? You’re being silly now,” Keane responded. “No, he’s had two great performances but anybody can win two games. It’s what he does until the end of the season. “Even if they do get into fourth I still wouldn’t be convinced he’s the man for the job. Absolutely not. I still think they need a bigger and better manager. “But, he’s got the opportunity, what a chance it is for him and, do you know what, he’s taking it so fair play to him.” – The Independent

“Harry makes a good point, they’ve got a lot of their players back now, it’s a full group, they’ve got full weeks together and there’s no other distractions,” Keane replied. “They can focus on the League form and they’re producing. “But, as we know you win one, two games for Man Utd, fantastic. Particularly to beat City, and come to Arsenal. I felt United would get a result today, I was thinking a draw but I felt United would turn up. “They’ve got enough quality players and

“They will have to have a reset and say ‘We’re still in a great position’ but they need to get that momentum back. I can’t believe they are not a confident team (considering) where they are in the league and in every other competition. “They have got get back to basics and start embracing this challenge instead of being frightened of it.” Keane was quick to praise the impact of United’s interim manager Michael Carrick and his staff have had on the players and results but revealed that his preference for the next manager be someone “big ger and better” than Carrick. Asked for his opinion on the result and the performance from Manchester United, Keane ech

“They didn’t create enough, (Bukayo) Saka and (Leandro) Trossard, on the left, didn’t produce enough to create danger for United. “They need a leader to lift the spirit of the team. They need someone to make them understand when they are on the field they need to play with more energy and take more risks because they have the quality. It is a disappointing performance as they didn’t express themselves.” Former United midfielder Roy Keane felt the Gunners’ position as front runners was starting to count against them. “Pressure was on Arsenal today: everything is going for them and they’re going well in all competitions,”

team after the Premier League leaders lost 3-2 at home to Manchester United. Defeat, only their third this season, meant the Gunners have dropped seven points in their last three matches and the gap to Manchester City and Aston Villa is only four points. Mikel Arteta’s side thought they had snatched a draw with Mikel Merino’s 84th-minute equaliser only for Matheus Cunha to score a brilliant winner just three minutes later. “There are still some questions about the mental strength of the team,” Vieira told Sky Sports . “That

they’ve got momentum into their season and all of a sudden you’re think ing it’s a great chance for top four. If they play with

Ű BY DAMIAN SPELLMAN Blues pass huge test

Arteta accepts ‘every opinion’

LIAM ROSENIOR felt Chelsea all but aced his latest examination after they beat 10-man Crystal Palace 3-1 to secure their new boss a first Premier League victory

Ű BY ROBERT O’CONNOR

MIKEL ARTETA had no problem with former Arsenal captain Patrick Vieira questioning his team’s mental strength after their Premier League title hopes were dealt a huge blow by Manchester United. The 3-2 defeat at the Emirates was the Gunners’ third winless game in a row in the League and meant their lead at the top is down to four points after a dam aging weekend on which Manchester City and Aston Villa both won. Arsenal looked to be cruising to victory after going ahead in the 29th minute through Lisandro Martinez’s own goal but thereafter the pressure appeared to get to them. Martin Zubimendi’s dreadful error gifted an equal iser to Bryan Mbeumo before the break then Patrick Dorgu lashed in an outrageous strike off the underside of the bar to put United in front. Mikel Merino came off the bench to squeeze an equaliser over the line and at that point the game appeared there to be won. Yet Arsenal folded again, Matheus Cunha scoring a brilliant winner from range after which Sky Sports pun dit and three-time title winner Vieira said there are “questions about the mental strength of the team”. Asked for his response, Arteta said: “That’s fine. We accept every opinion, where it’s coming from. They have the right reason to say it. At the end, we have to show the mental strength that we have on the pitch when it comes to a match day.” The extent to which the game changed following Zubimendi’s error will have been particularly alarming for Arteta. There appeared to be little on pressure on the mid fielder when he turned and inexplicably played the ball across his own goal and straight to the feet of Mbeumo, who confidently rounded David Raya and finished for his ninth goal of the season. “I think we started the game really well, the first half hour we were very dominant,” said Arteta. “After that we gave them the goal. “Errors are a part of football, very unlike us, but we gave them the goal and hope, and that shifted the energy because from half-time we really struggled especially to keep the ball in the right areas. “In the second half they had two brilliant goals, some individual quality and magic moments. I think we managed to shift the energy, score the second goal, and you could fe;el that everything changed. The game was ready to go and win it.” – The Independent

away from home. Rosenior, who has now led the Blues to four wins from five across all competitions, also becomes the first boss since Graham Potter to walk away with six points from his first two top-flight encounters. Estevao opened the scoring in the 34th minute before turning provider for Joao Pedro after the break, when Enzo Fernandez also added a penalty, but Rosenior was denied a clean sheet when Chris Richards nodded home a late consolation. “I think today was a huge test,” said Rosenior. “I changed the shape (and) the performance today makes me very pleased, because 95% of the press and 95% of the positioning was absolutely perfect.” Yesterday’s loss was yet another blow for the Eagles, who this month have already lost former captain Marc Guehi to Manchester City and found themselves – as holders – unceremoniously dumped out of the FA Cup by non-league Macclesfield. Glasner, who also last week announced his inten tion to leave when his deal expires this summer, admit ted: “The club is in transition. “Since when I arrived, now we have four starters who have gone, and it’s not to blame anybody for this. It’s Crystal Palace, for clubs like we are, it’s normal. And then in a transition phase there are some tough moments. “Yes, it’s a tough period for everyone. But I think what characterises Crystal Palace and our fans is they always stick together and support each other.” – The Independent

Chelsea’s Pedro Neto (left) challenges Palace’s Jaydee Canvot during the Premier League match at Selhurst Park on Sunday. – REUTERSPIC

Emery plays down title talk

UNAI EMERY will only consider Aston Villa as Premier League title contenders if they are still in the mix with three games to go. Villa cemented themselves in third place, level on points with Man City, with a hard-fought 2-0 win at Newcastle on Sunday – a first at St James’ Park since April 2005 – but Emery, who insisted they were not top-five contenders after the previous weekend’s 1-0 home defeat by Everton, was refusing to be carried away.

competing and we are there, We are getting points.” Opposite number Eddie Howe, whose side is still yet to win a League game in the absence of skipper Bruno Guimaraes since his arrival in January 2022, said: “I’m mixed on our performance because I thought it was okay. “There was a lot of good bits in there, some good individual performances, but ultimately we’ve lost the game 2-0 at home.” – The Independent

performing consistently, maybe you can better and maybe on day 35, we can speak differently. “Of course, we are competing against Arsenal, we are competing against Manchester City, we are competing against Chelsea, we are competing against Liverpool, we are competing against Newcastle, against Tottenham…Wow, the power they have. But we are

He said: “Next week we are playing against Brentford at home. Last week we lost and last week, no-one asked me about contenders for the title. We lost against Everton, ‘No, not now’; and we are winning today, ‘Yes now’. “Okay, calm. Keep balance is the only objective I have in my mind, and the only way I know is work every day and if you are