Gary Neville has warned Arsenal’s top young players not to get carried away with their progress, highlighting Tottenham Hotspur’s Dele Alli as a real warning.
Arsenal blazed past Tottenham on Sunday afternoon, claiming a 3-0 lead in the first half.
Homegrown youngsters Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe both grabbed a goal and an assist each in a blistering display.
Son Heung-min did pull one back for Tottenham, but the damage was done as Arsenal fans celebrated a huge win.
Arsenal understandably excited
Arsenal fans would have been buzzing no matter who scored, but seeing Smith Rowe and Saka shine made it mean so much more.
The duo have come through the Hale End academy and are now first-team stars under Mikel Arteta.
The sky appears to be the limit for both players, but they will of course have to keep developing and moving forward.
Neville criticised Tottenham’s Alli
On the other side was Dele Alli, who looked like being a star when he was at Saka and Smith Rowe’s age.
Alli has regressed for more than two years now, and was hooked at half time against Arsenal following a dismal display.
After the game, pundit Gary Neville told Sky Sports (26/09, 7:09pm) suggested that Alli is a ‘major warning’ to young players looking to hit stardom.
Neville feels Alli could have been one of the great midfield players, but is now a shadow of his former self.
Neville added that Alli needs to ‘sort himself out’ or risk being on the scrapheap at Tottenham, which would be a sad fall for the midfielder.
“If they want a warning sign, they should look at Dele Alli,” said Neville. “I had him with England and I would’ve said that he would’ve become one of the top midfield players that this country has ever produced. He had everything, 6ft 2, could score goals, could tackle, could head.”
“And now look at him on the football pitch, he’s a shadow of the player he was. Last year I said he needs a wake up call, but now he needs to sort himself out and quickly,” he added.
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