Arsenal's front three of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus not combining is a problem, says Gary Neville
Gary Neville says the lack of combination in Arsenal's front three is a «real problem» for Mikel Arteta's side, and that Gabriel Jesus is not the «sniffer» striker they need; follow Arsenal vs West Ham on Sky Sports' live blog on Thursday night; kick-off 8.15pm
Football Expert @GNev2
Thursday 28 December 2023 07:06, UK
Gary Neville says Arsenal's lack of combination between their front three could cost them in the Premier League title race — adding that current No 9 Gabriel Jesus hasn't got an «instinct» in front of goal.
Arsenal went top of the league on Christmas Day for the second consecutive year thanks to a 1-1 draw at Liverpool last Saturday, as Mikel Arteta's side look to write the wrongs of last season in 2024 when their title charge faltered after Easter.
But Neville says a lack of combination between Jesus, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli this season is proving to be a «real problem» for the Gunners, especially when compared to Liverpool's historic front three of Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah — who are the last attack to beat Manchester City to the league title in 2020.
«At Arsenal is an emerging front three that could be great. But they don't combine a lot together,» he said on the Gary Neville Podcast.
«That's a real problem, the best front threes involve their centre-forwards and the wide players, they play and bounce it off them.
»You see in years gone by, Salah, Firmino and Mane would link between the three of them. At Manchester United, when we were at our best, the front two would link between them.
«It is difficult for defenders to deal with them when front players link. Martinelli, Jesus and Saka, I don't see them linking up a lot.
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