Roy Keane Explains Where It Went Wrong For Arsenal In Their FA Cup Defeat Against Manchester City
Jan 28, 2023 at 5:17 PM
Following Arsenal’s 1-0 loss to Manchester City in the FA Cup fourth round, Manchester United legend Roy Keane analysed where it all went wrong for Mikel Arteta’s young Gunners. Arsenal are currently enjoying possibly their best season since the 2003/04 ‘Invincibles’ one, as they sit atop of the Premier League with a five-point gap over second-placed City and a game in hand.
This could finally be Arsenal’s season where they win their first league title in two decades. However, Keane, a legend and now an astute analyser of the game, has highlighted that the Gunners need to solve one problem, if they are to lift the coveted league trophy at the end of the season. The seven-time Premier League winner pointed towards the lack of depth in Arteta’s team, while picking on Albert Sambi Lokonga’s dismal performance in the absence of Thomas Partey.
Keane underlines Arsenal’s lingering problem in City defeat
The FA Cup clash between Arsenal and City was this season’s first meeting between the two Premier League title contenders, which eventually resulted in victory for the defending league champions. However, it was a closely contested tie, with Nathan Ake’s game-winning goal helping City to a 1-0 victory. But the north Londoners had much to worry about than the loss as their key midfielder Thomas Partey suffered a rib injury and had to be taken-off at the half time.
Mikel Arteta introduced his €18m signing from 2021 Sambi Lokonga as a second-half replacement for Partey. The former Belgian international, though, cost the Gunners with his sloppy positional play, unfortunately helping City to the goal and the win. Keane emphasised that the Arsenal midfielder was not even close to being adequate after the game. Keane’s fellow colleague and Arsenal legend Ian Wright asserted that Lokonga’s lack of playing time is to blame for his subpar knowledge of the game. He told ITV:
“It felt like that, but you see with someone like Sambi, he needs to be playing, he needs minutes. He needs to be able to understand and be more wary of where he is and what he needs to do, where he needs to be. You’ve got to try and sense that danger and that’s why he needs minutes in games of this quality, because that’s where you’ll learn.”
Wright’s comments were met with Roy Keane’s assertion that Lokonga needed to do better. The pro-turned-pundit said:
“But at this stage, at that level, they’ve already learnt that part of the game. It’s a big concern. When you get beaten in a football match you’re going to feel that way. The players are going to be down for the next few days, I know they’ll recover and if Arsenal want to win the league they’ll say listen, we had to sacrifice this game.
“When you make that many changes – particularly defensively – you’re sending a message that’s saying we’re kind of not that bothered, which is not a good message to send.”
While Sambi Lokonga may have been the lose connection, the bigger picture again points towards Arsenal’s lack of squad depth. The Gunners have lacked it since Arsene Wenger’s era, but are yet to resolve it. Arteta seems to have prioritised it, with Brighton’s Moises Caicedo now being targeted for a move. Arsenal had their £60m bid rejected for the 21-year-old, with the Gunners ready to push for it with an improved offer. With Partey speculated to spend a long time on the sidelines, Arsenal will need his adequate replacement if they are to keep their title hopes alive in the second half of the season.