‘Embarrassing’: Arsenal stars accused of acting like ‘little mafia’ by Gary Neville

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The fallout from Arsenal’s insipid display against Liverpool shows no signs of slowing down, and Gary Neville has condemned the side’s performance.

Liverpool were 3-0 victors at the Emirates, but if anything that scoreline flattered the visitors.

Mikel Arteta’s men offered little attacking threat, with captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang turning in another distinctly underwhelming performance.

Manchester United legend Neville was scathing in his verdict when he spoke on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football.

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His ire was focused mainly on their attackers, and he suggested Liverpool could have selected him and 75-year-old Sky commentator Martin Tyler in the centre of defence.

Neville said: “I was alarmed. We know Arsenal are inconsistent and they are in transition under Mikel Arteta so you don’t ordinarily think it will stand out.

“But at half-time on Saturday I was really uncomfortable with what I’d seen. At the end of the game, I did something that I don’t ordinarily do – normally I just get off and leave. I sat around for a few minutes with Martin Tyler and was like ‘what was that’.

‘There’s been a number of times on Monday Night Football over the last few years where my anger has sort of emerged in the couple of days since the game.

“It’s very rare, I remember QPR in my early days on Monday Night Football were a team I really didn’t like, Sunderland once I thought there’s something not right there, Chelsea a couple of times I thought they were turning on their manager.

“Coming out on Saturday, it felt like there were a few players in that front part of the pitch – it looked like a little mafia.

“It looked like a little group of players that were not comfortable, like there was a disconnect between them and the manager. Like the manager looked like he had enough of them.

“I said in the second-half me and Martin Tyler could play centre-back for Liverpool, they were really comfortable them two.

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“Arsenal never laid a finger on them and it was embarrassing. A really bad day for Arsenal.

“I came away thinking it was a dark moment that, a crossroads moment when you feel it’s more than just a 3-0 defeat against Liverpool. I think Mikel Arteta will have come out of it thinking it’s me or them.”

Arsenal are now languishing in 10th, with ninth-placed Aston Villa two points ahead having played one game fewer.

Arteta’s side have a chance to rebuild their confidence on Thursday night when they turn their attention European matters.

Slavia Prague, who knocked out Rangers in the previous round, are the visitors in their Europa League round of 16 first leg.