Gary Neville is shut down on American TV by fellow pundit over calling Arsenal a ‘big let-down’ – and singling out one superstar’s ‘big drop-off’

Gary Neville was called out on American TV by a fellow pundit after labelling Arsenal’s performances this season as a ‘big let-down’. 

The incident occurred while the former Manchester United star was appearing as a pundit on NBC Sports on Saturday for the Gunners’ game against Brentford, which finished 1-1. 

That result saw Arteta’s side slip 13 points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool following the Reds’ victory over West Ham on Sunday. 

Neville said: ‘What’s happened this season is I think they’ve gone backwards from the start of the season in terms of their recruitment. 

‘They never covered themselves for their likely injury to Havertz who was their only centre-forward.

However, Neville’s fellow pundit Robbie Mustoe retorted: ‘I wouldn’t agree that they have regressed. [Arteta] is getting closer, it was just a difficult season with injuries’. 

Neville responded in kind by saying that he thought Arsenal were ‘always trying to be let off the hook’. 

He also singled out the performances of skipper Martin Odegaard, who he says had a ‘big drop-off’ throughout the 2024-25 campaign. 

Neville also expressed his belief that the Gunners to have ‘the worst attacking squad out of the top six’. 

Arsenal have been without key players in attack for large parts of the season with Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus all facing extended periods on the sidelines at various points. 

As a result, they have struggled to match their prolific scoring rate of 91 goals from last season, scoring just 57 in 32 league matches so far this term. 

While Liverpool’s fate as Premier League champions is all but confirmed, Arteta knows all hope is not lost for his players following Arsenal’s 3-0 win against Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final last Tuesday. 

With the return leg to come at the Bernabeu on Wednesday, Arteta will be seeking to guide the north London to their first European Cup semi-final in 15 years. 

Noting that there was another competition in which Arsenal are serious contenders, Neville conceded: ‘If they win the Champions League all will be forgiven but otherwise their league performances have been a big let-down’.