Roy Keane on Arsenal: It will take a lot to stop them in title race; Cesc Fabregas hails changes made by Mikel Arteta | Football News

Sky Sports’ Roy Keane believes it will take a lot to stop Arsenal in the Premier League title race, while Cesc Fabregas hailed the changes made at the club by Mikel Arteta who helped steer the Gunners to success.

In a crunch week in the title race, Arsenal won 3-2 against Manchester United on Super Sunday, sending them five points clear of second-placed Manchester City with a game in hand.

It was an impressive performance from Arteta’s young side, and although Man City have the title, Keane believes it will take something special to deny Arsenal their first league title since the 2003/04 season.

“They’re in a good place with the atmosphere and the momentum,” he said Sky Sports follow the game.

“It was a big challenge today. In a tight game when you are fighting, you can see the personality of the team and the character. see the other side? We saw it today.

“Momentum is with them, there is good experience, youth and speed. They have a good choice from the bench – they are in a good place. will not believe. It takes a lot to stop.

“He was under pressure when Man City won [against Tottenham on Wednesday and Wolves on Sunday afternoon], they will have also seen that, so the game is pressurized and they deal with that as well. They deserve the victory.

“There was a question mark about him if he blew it or bottled it last season. That was thrown away because he was in a good position to be in the top four, but he has done well and answered the critics. learn from those mistakes, they are a better group strong and we see it week in, week out.

“We’ve seen clubs up and down the country panicking, making bad decisions at board level. Arsenal seem to have a balance with the people at the top, a little calmer and loyal to the manager.

“The fans have stuck with him and we’ve seen young players giving interviews, meeting great, fun kids who are making noise and achieving great things.

“There’s a long way to go, but they’re a well-liked group with a lot to do.”

Fabregas: Arteta has changed Arsenal’s mentality

Former Arsenal midfielder Fabregas gives a unique insight into how Arteta transformed the club from a training ground to a new player and culture.

He also blamed the club’s hierarchy for sticking with the manager, even after a few seasons where he could do it.

Talk to Sky SportsFabregas said: “He has done a fantastic job. We saw it [Amazon] document the way he pushes the players, the way he understands the players.

“When Arsenal hired Mikel, he had never coached anyone, he was only an assistant at Man City – when I say ‘only’, it would have been great to work with Pep (Guardiola). But it’s not the same as when you’re the main man.

“I was lucky enough to be in the training ground recently and I feel like I’ve never been there because everything has changed so much. The manager of the training ground told me that 95 percent of the change is Mikel.

“He changed the perception of the club, a lot of positive messages around the training ground, bigger facilities, better equipment, better pitches. Everything, you name it.

“At the entrance they have the symbol of the Premier League, the empty Premier League. Arteta wants to send a message that: ‘man, we have to work’.

“It’s a message and an inspiration to the players that they want to put the Premier League in there. They’ve changed the mentality of the club since Arsene Wenger left. It’s great what they’ve done.

“Remember, he’s finished eighth in two consecutive seasons. To do what he did in such a short period of time and do it the way he did is pretty exciting.

“Arsenal gave time to Mikel and this proved it and showed other clubs not to panic when there are problems. Sometimes, they finished eighth and almost got into the Champions League but they just failed, just have that process and that’s the process.

“The club understands that it will take time to get it. I still believe that they are more advanced than they think now.

“Players like Saka and Nketiah, coming from the academy, cost nothing to the club.

Will the emotions get the better of Arsenal?

Gary Neville Sky Sports:

“It feels like Arsenal did 20 years ago. When I play against them, I expect them to shoot from distance or cross – but they will play extra passes to get wide positions.

“They will continue to drive you into your box. I will find myself deeper, narrower and under pressure. It just felt like the goals were coming. It was just wave after wave of attacks, and it was like that 20 years ago when you played against an Arsenal team that good.

“I don’t think the managers of 20 years ago were as demonstrative as we see them today, like Conte, Klopp, Pep and Arteta. Those Arsenal players will be under significant pressure in the next 19 games which will require composure – especially in the last 10 games.

“If you are going for the league title, it will be really pressurized for the players. They will need not only passion but also need calmness and some calm authority at times.

“They have to settle down. They have players like Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus who know what it’s like, they’ve been there before. It’s exciting to think what this Arsenal team can do.

“He has to go on and prove that he can win the title, which will be very difficult. He still has to play Manchester City twice and he has a shoulder.

“He is a big powerhouse, Manchester City and Pep Guardiola. You can imagine him sitting there tonight not too bothered.”