‘They feel the anxiety’ - Arsenal legend raises concerns over Gunners’ mental state

Arsenal legend Emmanuel Petit believed his former club is beginning to show signs of anxiety as the Premier League title race intensifies, following their damaging 3-2 defeat to Manchester United over the weekend.

The loss came at an important moment for Mikel Arteta’s side, with title rivals Manchester City and Aston Villa both picking up victories.

Arsenal’s advantage at the top of the table has now been reduced to just four points, further increasing the pressure on the North London club.

Speaking to talkSPORT, Petit suggested the recent results and growing expectations are starting to weigh heavily on the players.

He said, “The players, they feel it. They feel the impact, the negativity, the pressure, and they feel the anxiety. They don't need that, they need their support, especially right now.”

Petit also pointed to Arsenal’s demanding fixture list as a key factor behind their dip in form, highlighting the physical and mental strain placed on the squad.

“When you look at the games they played during Christmas time, they played big games, they played in the Champions League, they qualified for every single competition, they're leading most of them,” he added.

Despite their strong overall campaign, Arsenal have dropped points in recent matches, including a goalless draw with Nottingham Forest.