Chris Sutton has told BBC Live’s coverage of Crystal Palace’s 3-0 win over Arsenal that Ben White and Gabriel were bullied by Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta. Palace shocked many, by easing to a hefty win.
Goals from Mateta, Jordan Ayew and Wilfried Zaha saw Patrick Vieira throw a spanner in the works against the side he won so much with. The Gunners stay in fifth, after Tottenham leapfrogged the Gunners on Sunday.
It was a night of defensive mistakes from Arsenal, which has been so unlike them this season. The combination of Ben White and Gabriel has worked brilliantly – but along with Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney.
But without those two full-backs, Arsenal looked sloppy at the back. Sutton gave his verdict at full-time – claiming £9million (Sky) Mateta bullied the Arsenal duo throughout the match, with both White and Gabriel at fault.
“Wilfried Zaha looks to be absolutely on top of his game and Jean-Philippe Mateta this season has been excellent. He bullied the Arsenal centre-backs. Conor Gallagher was here, there and everywhere. Palace were excellent.”
Sutton on Gabriel, White: Arsenal duo miles off brilliant best at Palace
Gabriel and White have combined superbly. They have given Arsenal the defensive platform, along with Aaron Ramsdale, for the midfield and attack to go and get forward. They are good enough to be relied upon.
But on Monday night, they looked shaky. They looked under pressure for the first time and it might just be that Tottenham’s brilliant form, the first real threat to Arsenal’s top-four position, might be increasing the pressure.
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