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Pundit slams Arsenal duo Bukayo Saka & Leandro Trossard

By on January 26, 2026

Bukayo Saka Leandro Trossard Kai Havertz Arsenal

Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira has slammed his former club’s key duo, Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard, following the Gunners’ ‘disappointing’ defeat to Manchester United.

After Manchester City and Aston Villa’s victories over Wolverhampton Wanderers and Newcastle United, respectively, Arsenal’s lead at the top of the Premier League table was cut to just four points.

Mikel Arteta’s side had to beat Man Utd to restore the seven-point lead, but they ended up losing the game 3-2 at the Emirates Stadium, and this was their first loss of this season at home.

Now, speaking on Sky Sports after the game, Vieira questions Arsenal’s mental strength and says that it was a really ‘disappointing’ defeat.

Furthermore, the former midfielder states that Saka and Trossard failed to create enough chances to trouble the United defence, and they need to play with more energy and take greater risks.

Vieira said:

“There are still some questions about the mental strength of the team. That performance they will be really disappointed with, not because they lose the game but the way they lose the game. 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.”

Pundit slams Saka & Trossard

Saka and Trossard have been the most in-form forwards of Arsenal thus far this season. The Englishman has made 12 goal contributions across all competitions, while the Belgian has made 13 goal contributions.

However, Man Utd’s defence managed to keep them quiet for the majority of the game on Sunday, and Arteta even decided to substitute Trossard midway through the second half.

Meanwhile, despite the defeat, Arsenal are still at the top of the Premier League table and are the favourites to become English champions this season.

On the other hand, they are set to end the Champions League league phase at the top of the table, and are still in both domestic cup competitions. So, Arteta’s side are on course to win the quadruple and don’t have to panic.

Now, Arsenal will take on Kairat Almaty in the Champions League in midweek before facing off against Leeds United in the Champions League next weekend.