Keane claims 2 Arsenal players performed like lower league players against Man City.

Roy Keane was not pleased with the way Arsenal handled themselves during their match against Manchester City last Sunday. He specifically called out two players, Declan Rice and Ben White, for their performance, comparing them to players from a lower division league. Despite initially looking like they were on track for a win, Arsenal ended up settling for a draw after Manchester City's John Stone scored a late equaliser.

The second half proved to be a challenge for Arsenal as they were down to 10 men after Leandro Trossard received a red card. They struggled to keep possession and were unable to register a single shot on target as Manchester City dominated the game. Keane was disappointed with their lack of composure on the ball, stating that they looked like a small team with a small mentality.

During the Stick to Football podcast, Keane expressed his frustration with the players, saying that they didn't need to constantly look to the manager for guidance on what pass to make. He believed that at their level, they should be able to make 4 or 5 passes without resorting to just booting the ball away. He even questioned whether they were playing at the level of League One or League Two players.

Keane also commented on Arsenal's defensive tactics in the second half, comparing them to managers like Tony Pulis, Sam Allardyce, Steve Bruce, and Neil Warnock, who are often referred to as "dinosaurs" for their defensive style of play. He acknowledged that there's nothing wrong with defending, but he was critical of the team's lack of effort in keeping possession when they did win the ball. He pointed out instances where players like Ben White and Declan Rice just kicked the ball out of play instead of trying to move it up the pitch.

He emphasized that he was not talking about a Championship team trying to hold on to a lead in the FA Cup, but rather about Arsenal, a team with a history of success. He acknowledged that they may have gotten a clean sheet at the Etihad Stadium last year, but he expected more from them. He concluded that there's nothing wrong with defending, but when they do win the ball back, they should be able to do something with it instead of just aimlessly kicking it up the pitch.

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