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Manchester United legend Gary Neville insists he has been disappointed by Martin Zubimendi in recent weeks after watching Arsenal beat Newcastle United 1-0 on Saturday.<\/p>\n
The Gunners\u2019 performances have really dropped off in recent weeks with two defeats in a row to Bournemouth and Manchester City, allowing the Citizens back into the Premier League title race.<\/p>\n
Arsenal<\/strong> climbed back above Man City in the Premier League on Saturday with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Newcastle United at the Emirates Stadium, as Pep Guardiola\u2019s side played Southampton in the FA Cup.<\/p>\n A number of players have let their levels drop recently with Neville picking out Zubimendi\u2019s form as one of particular concern ahead of the title run-in.<\/p>\n Neville told his Sky Sports<\/em> podcast: \u201cI thought at the start of the season that Zubimendi was a great signing. He\u2019s been a good player for Arsenal, but right now I was expecting that this would be where Zubimendi would be the player.<\/p>\n \u201cWho\u2019s going to be the difference player? I thought (Viktor) Gyokeres would get the goals for them in these big moments and get to 2-0. His lack of quality at the end was poor on that counter attack. He\u2019s got to do better than that.<\/p>\n READ: <\/span>Arsenal title plan has slight flaw as Arteta aims to go Invincible in \u2018new league\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cBut you think of what (Andrea) Pirlo is, or (Paul) Scholes or Rodri, Bernardo Silva \u2013 the player who can dictate play in a game like this, get Arsenal on the ball, organise and get them with authority and he\u2019s not demonstrating that. He\u2019s struggling in the games and he has done for a few weeks now.\u201d<\/p>\n Arsenal struggled to control midfield against Newcastle\u2019s Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes and Joe Willock and Neville pointed to a tactical issue.<\/p>\n Neville added: \u201c(Martin) Odegaard does it better. Odegaard went deeper (today), but the problem is when Odegaard goes deeper, (Declan) Rice then goes deeper and Zubimendi is already deep.<\/p>\n \u201cThen you\u2019ve got three players, or certainly two in deep areas. You can\u2019t have that. You want them to be rotating with each other, and you want one back there to link play with the defence and the full-backs.<\/p>\n READ: \u2018He will still play a big part\u2019 \u2013 Merson urges Arteta to recall Arsenal star for Atletico Madrid clash<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cIt felt to me today that Zubimendi, Rice and Odegaard got outplayed by that Newcastle midfield. It was 55 per cent possession to Newcastle, 45 per cent to Arsenal\u2026 surprising, very surprising.\u201d<\/p>\n Man Utd legend Neville continued: \u201cBut not surprising in the sense in how I saw that Newcastle midfield play. They were far better than the Arsenal midfield.<\/p>\n \u201cSo a bit of thinking for Mikel Arteta to do in terms of his midfield, how they can control games, show authority, keep the rhythm of the passing.\u201d<\/p>\n READ: <\/span>Arteta tells Arsenal to sign \u00a352m South American as contact made<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/div>\nNeville: \u2018They were far better than the Arsenal midfield\u2019<\/strong><\/h2>\n